Loose Women star Janet Street-Porter reveals she has skin cancer

23 June 2020, 15:05 | Updated: 23 June 2020, 15:10

Loose Women’s Janet Street-Porter reveals she has skin cancer

Loose Women’s Janet Street-Porter has revealed on TV that she has skin cancer, and will have surgery to have it removed this week.

The 73-year-old broadcaster appeared on today’s show (June 23) via a live video link, where she explained to her fellow panellists that she found out she had a basal cell carcinoma on her nose just three days before the coronavirus lockdown was announced.

A basal cell is a common form of cancer, and is one of three main types of cells in the top layer of the skin.

"I showed this tiny spot on my nose to a dermatologist and he immediately referred me to a consultant and they said I’ve got a basel cell carcinoma, which is a form of skin cancer," Janet said.

"If untreated it could grow. It has to be removed otherwise it’s going to get bigger and bigger. Also, I could be left with a very big scar.

"I was about to have it removed then lockdown happened three days before I was supposed to have it removed."

Janet continued: "I’ve spent the whole of lockdown getting more and more anxious about it.

"Although it doesn’t look any bigger on top of my skin, this kind of cancer grows under the skin. You can’t see it and that’s what they’ve got to cut out."

Janet Street-Porter is a veteran broadcaster, journalist, writer, and TV personality. She was previously the editor of The Independent on Sunday. Since 2011, she has been a regular weekly panellist on Loose Women.

She has also appeared on the likes of Question Time, I'm a Celebrity, and Celebrity MasterChef, and was appointed a CBE in the 2016 Birthday Honours for services to journalism and broadcasting.