- Former England footballer and Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson revealed he was diagnosed with skin cancer in 2012 after delaying a check-up for months.
- Merson admitted he “never” applied sunscreen during his professional football career and was a “sun worshipper” who felt better with a tan.
- He suggested that “being a man” or fear contributed to his reluctance to get a bleeding mole on his back checked, despite his child noticing it.
- After finally seeing a doctor, the mole was removed and diagnosed as melanoma, requiring 50 stitches.
- Doctors informed Merson that a further two or three months' delay would have made treatment impossible, a situation he attributed to his “pure laziness”.
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