Little-known face cancer symptoms not to ignore after James Martin's diagnosis

28 July 2023 , 15:33

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James Martin has shared his cancer diagnosis (Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

James Martin has revealed he was diagnosed with cancer on his face and had to have surgery to remove it at the end of 2017.

The 51-year-old celebrity chef shared the news in an apology for a foul-mouthed rant on the set of his ITV show, James Martin's Spanish Adventure, after being accused by staff of "bullying and intimidating behaviour".

The star, from Yorkshire, claimed the incident occurred during "the most fraught and difficult periods of [his] life" and that since his surgery, the cancer has "returned on several occasions" with him needing to have "regular treatments".

Facial cancer, or skin cancer, is one of the most common cancers in the world, according to the NHS, and there are a number of symptoms to be aware of.

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In the UK, around 147,000 new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are diagnosed every year (stock photo) (Getty Images)

There are two main types of skin cancer - non-melanoma - which is the most common - and melanoma, less common. In the UK, roughly 147,000 new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are diagnosed each year and the condition is thought to affect men more than women.

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The main symptom of non-melanoma skin cancer, which can initially be quite subtle, is a new lump or discoloured patch on the skin, that doesn't go away after a few weeks and progresses over months or years. The experts at the NHS explain: "In most cases, cancerous lumps are red and firm and sometimes turn into ulcers, while cancerous patches are usually flat and scaly.

"Non-melanoma skin cancer most often develops on areas of skin regularly exposed to the sun, such as the face, ears, hands, shoulders, upper chest, and back." They go on to advise speaking to your doctor if you have any type of skin abnormality including a lump, ulcer, lesion or skin discolouration that has not healed after four weeks.

Little-known face cancer symptoms not to ignore after James Martin's diagnosis

The NHS and Cancer Research encourage people to be vigilant at checking their bodies for changes (stock photo) (Getty Images)

Non-melanoma skin cancer is usually divided into Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and these different types of cancer have different symptoms as well. BCC usually starts out as a small, shiny pink or pearly white lump with a "translucent or waxy appearance", however, it may also look like a red, scaly patch.

This patch may have brown or black pigment within it and will slowly get bigger, potentially becoming crusty and bleeding, or just developing into a painless ulcer. SCC on the other hand begins as a firm pink lump with a "rough or crusted surface".

In some instances, a person might experience a "lot of surface scale and sometimes even a spiky horn sticking up from the surface". The lump will likely feel tender when touched and bleed easily.

Treatment for non-melanoma skin cancer often involves surgery to remove the cancerous tumour and some of the surrounding skin. Other forms of treatment can include cryotherapy, anti-cancer creams, radiotherapy and a light treatment called photodynamic therapy. The type of treatment used will depend on the type of cancer a person has, as well as the size and location of it.

The NHS adds: "Treatment for non-melanoma skin cancer is usually successful as, unlike most other types of cancer, there's a considerably lower risk that the cancer will spread to other parts of the body." Melanoma is another type of skin cancer that can occur, which usually develops from a mole, which could be a mole you have always had or a new one.

These types of cancer are less common but include Merkel cell carcinoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, T cell lymphoma of the skin and Sebaceous gland cancer. According to Cancer Research UK symptoms of melanoma skin cancer can include a change to a mole or freckle, so it's advised to be vigilant in checking your skin regularly for changes in the size, shape, colour and feel.

They add: "To spot skin cancer early it helps to know how your skin normally looks. That way, you'll notice any changes more easily. To look at areas you can’t see easily, you could try using a handheld mirror and reflect your skin onto another mirror. Or you could get your partner or a friend to look. This is very important if you're regularly outside in the sun for work or leisure.

"You can take a photo of anything that doesn't look quite right. If you can it's a good idea to put a ruler or tape measure next to the abnormal area when you take the photo. This gives you a more accurate idea about its size and can help you tell if it's changing. You can then show these pictures to your doctor." It's also crucial to protect your skin by wearing sun cream with an SPF factor of at least 30, as TV's Dr Hilary Jones recently told the Mirror.