Broadcaster Adrian Chiles said he was “initially embarrassed” by the reaction, while clarifying that all was well following his skin cancer diagnosis
Adrian Chiles has opened up about the reaction he’s received since going public with his skin cancer news. The presenter spoke about his diagnosis for the first time earlier this month, telling fans he had been treated for squamous cell carcinoma on the NHS.
Adrian, 58, initially grew concerned about a suspicious patch of skin on his shoulder and a biopsy later revealed it was cancerous.
Sharing the news with his readers, he said: “All removed and won’t spread. So not nothing, but not serious. Needs keeping an eye on”.
According to the NHS, non-melanoma skin cancer is a common type of cancer that starts in the top layer of the skin, with the main types being basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).
In his latest column for The Guardian, the broadcaster spoke about the surprising reaction he received from loved ones and strangers as he clarified that all was well.
“Everything went nuts, thoughts and prayers came streaming in from all quarters”, he shared, after announcing the news.
The broadcaster said those sending their well wishes were many of his family and friends, whom he hadn’t informed, as he didn’t think it was worth mentioning.
Additionally, Adrian recalled being approached by a man at a football game who told him he had been “praying” for him.
“A bloke running a burger van said, ‘ I’ve been through it, mate. Terrible. ‘ The poor man had been really very ill indeed with bowel cancer”, he added.
The presenter admitted he was “initially embarrassed” by the reaction and also “annoyed” by how overblown his story had become.
“Had no one got beyond the headlines and read any of the articles, which made it clear it was nothing serious”?, he wrote.
“Then I felt bad about feeling annoyed as people were only being nice”.
To respond to those sending well wishes in the best possible way, the former Daybreak star said he did his “best to summon words to convey compassion”, without implying that he was remotely in the same situation.
“But then perhaps, in the nicest possible way, he drew some comfort from having me in the same boat. It was a lot”, he continued.
The presenter went on to say he “still]feels] bad about the fuss”, though expressed gratitude for those who showed care.
It’s not the first time Adrian has opened up about his health. In 2019, he revealed that his life changed for the better when he was diagnosed with ADD (attention deficit disorder).
The broadcaster received the diagnosis following a long period of “a constant kind of chest-bursting, enervating surfeit of adrenaline, dipping alarmingly through anxiety into listlessness and often periods of utter despair”.
As the NHS explains, ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is a neurodevelopmental condition that can also be referred to as ADD (attention deficit disorder). Symptoms are generally grouped into three categories, difficulties with attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
Source: Mirror
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