- Ninja revealed skin cancer diagnosis with post on X
- He is hopeful that the cancer has been caught early and eradicated
- He is advocating that others ensure they get regular skin checkups
Ninja – the most popular streamer on Twitch – has announced that he has been diagnosed with a form of skin cancer but added that he is hopeful that it has been caught early and dealt with.
Ninja – real name Tyler Blevins – said he was “still in a bit of shock” at his diagnosis of melanoma.
Posting on X – the social media platform formerly known as Twitter – to his 6.6 million followers, Ninja (@Ninja) wrote: “A few weeks ago I went in to a dermatologist for an annual skin/mole check… there was a mole on the bottom of my foot that they wanted to remove just to be careful. It came back as melanoma, but they are optimistic that we caught it in the early stages.
“I had another dark spot appear near it, so today they biopsied that and removed a larger area around the melanoma with the hopes that under the microscope they will see clear non-melanoma edges and we will know we got it.”
Ninja concluded his post with a message to his followers: “please take this as a PSA to get skin checkups.”
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that develops in cells called melanocytes, which are responsible for the pigment that gives skin its color. It often appears on skin that is often exposed to the sun, such as arms, face and legs. Symptoms commonly include a change in the appearance of an existing mole or a new pigmented or unusual-looking growth on the skin. If you are worried about any skin changes you have noticed, consult a healthcare professional.
Ninja has accrued 19 million followers on Twitch, who follow his exploits on Fortnite, and is one of the best-known names in streaming. Such is his fame he has even appeared on mainstream shows such as The Masked Singer.
