Len Goodman health: Former Strictly Come Dancing judge’s ‘early warning’ of ill health

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While enjoying leisurely games of golf outside, Len Goodman admitted he didn’t bother wearing a hat – something you wouldn’t find him doing now, after he had to have a cancerous lesion removed. “I was playing golf and a bloke said to me, ‘Oh, you’ve got a little mole on your forehead’,” Len told the Loose Women panel. “He went, ‘Just like my nan used to.’ He told me to get it checked. I’m not medical at all, so I said, ‘I don’t know, what is it?'”

Len continued: “I went and they took it out, and it’s gone. It was a tiny little thing on my forehead…

“Probably because I play a lot of golf and I don’t wear a hat, which I do now.”

The 77-year-old said the “little early warning” sign was good, as “it could have become something far worse”.

While the skin cancer diagnosis came as a shock to the former professional dancer, he was overjoyed by the “simple process” of getting it removed.

“It was such a simple process,” he said. “The doctor put a few injections around it, took it out and I’m back to my gorgeous self.”

The experience has, however, left a lasting impact on the way Len thinks about his health.

“It’s so important that we do keep covered up,” he said. “I used to wear a baseball cap but now I wear a straw hat which fully covers the forehead and so on.

“I put a lot of Factor 50 on my face when I play golf and fingers crossed everything is going to be gorgeous.”

Skin cancer

The Skin Cancer Foundation highlighted that cancerous cells can grow abnormally in the epidermis – the outermost layer of skin.

Such an event is triggered by unrepaired DNA damage that leads to abnormal cell mutations.

The main types of skin cancer include basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), melanoma and Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC).

No matter the type of skin cancer, the main culprit is the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays and the use of tanning beds.

When skin cancer is caught in the earliest stages, it is highly treatable and curable.

Basal cell carcinomas can appear in a manner of ways, so keep your eyes peeled for changing marks on the skin.

For instance, skin cancer may look like a reddish patch or irritated area of skin.

Such a patch of skin may crust, itchy, or hurt – or it could cause no discomfort what so ever.

The best way to keep on top of any skin changes is to be vigilant and, if affordable, to get checked over by a dermatologist annually.

To help protect your skin against skin cancer, the charity recommends a few safety guidelines.

One such safety measure is to use a broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher every day – no matter the weather.

Furthermore, take steps to avoid sunburn, such as covering up with clothing and to avoid the use of tanning beds.

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