EXCLUSIVE I broke down in tears when my doctor said cancer - I'm haunted by one huge regret and have a warning for every single man, says Grange Hill's Lee Macdonald

Daily Mail​

09-07-2025

Grange Hill legend Lee Macdonald has admitted that he is haunted by one huge regret after having two skin cancer scares that left him in tears.
The actor, 57, who is arguably best known for playing Zammo McGuire in the popular BBC show, first noticed a 'black mark' on his face that 'wouldn't go away' back in 2023, but was later given the all clear.
More recently he was diagnosed with a pre-cancerous spot called keratosis after noticing another mark on his cheek - and will have to get it taken out in the next few weeks.
Lee has joined forces with O2 and The British Skin Foundation to raise awareness about their recent research, which has highlighted a 'significant disconnect between awareness and behaviour when it comes to sun protection'.
The star wants to raise awareness about the importance of looking after your skin, especially after the terrifying scares that he has had.
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline about his health, Lee said: 'About two years ago I had a little black mark in my eye, and it wouldn't go away.
'And then it started weeping, and it concerned me. But being a bloke you leave it and leave it there. You just don't bother.
'So I went to the doctors, and he said "It looks like it's a BCC." I said "What's a BC?", he said "It looks like cancer." He said "but we need to get you a biopsy to confirm".
'And I remember going down and sitting in the car with my friend Andy, and I cried for about an hour. It wasn't confirmed at that time, but just the word cancer, that really scared me.
'And they went to the first biopsy and they said "We need you to come back to give it another couple of weeks".
'Went back and they said "It isn't cancerous", which was a real relief, but a real eye opener.
'And then not this week, I've been obviously speaking to O2 and the campaign, and I've got a mark here [his cheek], which is like roughness of skin.
'Didn't think anything of it, but when I shave, it starts to bleed, and it's not gone. It's been there, it's probably been there on and off for about a year.
'But I just thought "Oh, it's a bit of skin, obviously it's not clearing up because I'm shaving over it".
'Made an appointment to the doctors, see the doctor on Saturday, and he said, it's a Keratosis, which can be pre cancerous.
'At the moment, it isn't cancerous, but it's through sun damage.'
The star confessed that he was a regular user of sunbeds when he was a teenager in a bid to feel good about himself.
He continued: 'And now I've got a appointment at the dermatologist to have it possibly burn out or cut out.
'So that's where we are with that now, and it's just been worrying for me because two scares within a short period of time.
'I'm now checking everything, and I am worried because my dad had skin cancer, and he cut that out many years ago.
'So I'm just really concerned. I just think people should be aware as well.'
The star goes fishing every Sunday and makes sure that he is covered in sun cream, wears a hat and has even bought a bivvy (a fishing tent) to sit in so that he is out of the sun.
Lee explained that the scares has appeared since he took up the hobby every weekend in the summer.
He went on to add: 'I go fishing every Sunday, and you see blokes...
'Blokes are the worst ones. We don't put cream on, we just don't do it.
'And you see all the lads. And they're proper red, and they'll, take the mick out of it.
'He'll be going "Oh look at you," but not realising, as soon as you get a bit of sunburn, that is sun skin damage. So it's just, it's just quite worrying.
'And with my son, even when it's cloudy, my son got sunburned when the cloud was out a couple of weeks ago, and his step mum went absolutely mad at me for not taking care of it.
'And as blokes, what we do, we put a bit of sun cream on, and then leave it for the day and think that's okay... But it does need to be reapplied.'
After leaving his role on Grange Hill, Lee wanted to feel and look his best so used sunbeds to give him a glow.
When asked if he regrets using them, Lee said: 'Without a shadow of a doubt, if I look back now, obviously, because of my complaints, I wish I'd never, ever gone near them if I knew now what I knew, then I would not have touched them.
'I would not not go near them.'
He explained: 'Back when I was 16, so we're talking many moons ago, and they were quite common [sunbeds], because mine was in my local swimming baths, and also a friend of mine had one at home.
'It just made me feel I'd have a sort of half hour sunbed and feel a bit although I wouldn't be tanned.
'I would go red and then go white again in the morning. I still have another one in a couple of days. It would just make me feel better. I'd feel like being on holiday.
'You know, just feel good. And they were regular. And I think they were quite popular at the time, and they were more accessible.
'You have sunbed shops now, but they seem to be everywhere. And I didn't even think about it.
'I don't think the worry about UV rays was so much a thing. I remember never thinking.
'Now I would never ever go on a sunbed. I wouldn't encourage people to go on a sunbed.
'If the sun's out there and you're going to use it, just protect yourself.'
Lee added: 'I'd discourage people from going on sunbeds. And also, when you go on a sunbed, you don't put cream on, you just get on a sunbed and you're there to the UV rays.
'To me now, it seems madness, and if people can use, you know, fake tan, put a bit of fake tan on, or a little spray, or whatever, a tinted moisturiser. Do that.
'You're not doing yourself any favors long term.
'Well, mine's proved it. Many moons later, it's come back and bit me.'
O2 and The British Skin Foundation's latest research has revealed that Brits put scrolling before using SPF.
The research by O2 follows The British Skin Foundation's 'Burnable Billboard', that uses AI to show real-time sun damage to skin, aiming to raise awareness about sun protection. More in depth information on sun safety can be found on the BSF's website.
What is malignant melanoma?
Malignant melanoma is a serious form of skin cancer that begins in melanocytes, cells found in the upper layer of skin that produce melanin, which gives skin its colour.
While less common that other types of skin cancer, it is more dangerous because of its ability to spread to other organs more rapidly if it is not treated at an early stage.
Symptoms
A new mole or a change in an existing mole may be signs of melanoma.
Melanomas can appear anywhere on your body, but they're more common in areas that are often exposed to the sun.
Some rarer types can affect the eyes, soles of the feet, palms of the hands or genitals.
Check your skin for any unusual changes. Use a mirror or ask a partner or friend to check any areas you cannot see.
In particular, look for:
Moles with an uneven shape or edges
Moles with a mix of colours
Large moles - melanomas often tend to be more than 6mm wide
Moles that change size, shape or colour over time
Causes
Ultraviolet (UV) light is the most common cause of melanoma. It comes from the sun and is used in sunbeds.
Melanoma is more common in older people, but younger people can also get it.
You're also more likely to get melanoma if you have:
Pale skin that burns easily in the sun
Red or blonde hair
Blue or green eyes
A large number of freckles or moles
Had a lot of sun exposure and you've had sunburn a lot in the past
Used sunbeds a lot
A history of skin cancer in your family or you've had skin cancer before
If you have black or brown skin, you have a lower chance of getting melanoma, but you can still get it.
Prevention
Staying safe in the sun is the best way to lower your chance of getting skin cancer (both melanoma and non-melanoma).
Do the following:
Stay out of the sun during the hottest part of the day (11am to 3pm in the UK)
Keep your arms and legs covered and wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses that provide protection against ultraviolet (UV) rays
Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 and at least 4-star UVA protection – make sure you reapply it regularly
Make sure babies and children are protected from the sun – their skin is much more sensitive than adult skin
Treatment
Melanoma skin cancer can often be treated. The treatment you have will depend on where it is, if it has spread and your general health.
Surgery is the main treatment for melanoma. Radiotherapy, medicines and chemotherapy are also sometimes used.
Surgery could involve removing the melanoma and an area of healthy skin around it, swollen lymph nodes if the cancer has spread to them and other parts of the body if it has spread to them.
If a large part of skin has to be removed, a skin graft might be needed which could see kin taken from another part of the body to cover the area where the melanoma was.
Radiotherpay is sometimes used to reduce the size of large melanomas and help control and relieve symptoms.
Targeted medicines and immotherapy are used to treat melanomas that can't be dealt with by surgery, or have spread to lymph glands or other parts of the body.
Chemotherapy, which kills cancer cells, is sometimes used to treat advanced melanoma when it has spread to another part of the body. It does not work as well as other treatments, but can be used if you are unable to have them.
How dangerous is it?
Generally for people with melanoma in England:
almost all people (almost 100%) will survive their melanoma for 1 year or more after they are diagnosed
around 90 out of every 100 people (around 90%) will survive their melanoma for 5 years or more after diagnosis
more than 85 out of every 100 people (more than 85%) will survive their melanoma for 10 years or more after they are diagnosed