Comedian Katherine Ryan has revealed she has been diagnosed with skin cancer for a second time. The Canadian-born star shared the news on her podcast and social media, confirming that she recently had a cancerous mole removed from her arm and will undergo a further procedure next week to ensure all traces of the disease are eliminated.
The 41-year-old stand-up comic was first diagnosed with cancer in 2004 while studying in Toronto, where doctors removed a “golf ball-sized” lump from her thigh.
‘The mole wasn’t right’
This time, Ryan said her concerns were initially dismissed by a doctor. However, upon further testing, the mole was confirmed to be “early melanoma” – a serious form of skin cancer that can spread rapidly if left untreated.
“If you know about melanoma, you’ll know it is a deadly form of skin cancer. It does spread quickly, and I just felt like this mole wasn’t right,” she explained to listeners on her Telling Everybody Everything podcast.
Despite her suspicions, a doctor reassured her that the mole was not cancerous.
“It’s really easy to take a diagnosis of ‘you’re healthy’ and just walk away… But the mole kept changing,” Ryan said.
Unconvinced, she persisted and returned to the doctor, who again stated it was “totally fine” but agreed to remove part of it for testing. A few days later, she received a call confirming her fears – the mole was indeed melanoma.
“He told me it had been caught very early, so I highly doubt that it has spread,” she said.
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The importance of self-advocacy
Ryan expressed her relief that she had trusted her instincts and pushed for further investigation.
“It just feels crazy to me, what could have happened, if I hadn’t been my own advocate – and I will continue to be my own advocate,” she said.
Ryan has been a familiar face on UK television for years, with appearances on Live at the Apollo, 8 Out of 10 Cats, and her own Netflix series, The Duchess.
She credited Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Teddi Mellencamp for prompting her to return to the doctor after Mellencamp shared her own battle with melanoma.
“God bless that woman for being so transparent about her journey,” Ryan said.
A personal battle against skin cancer
Ryan, who has “very fair Celtic skin,” shared that she has always been careful about sun exposure, regularly using sunscreen and covering up outdoors. Despite these precautions, she has more than 100 moles, making her more susceptible to melanoma.
Her recent diagnosis has left her questioning, “What other moles do I need to have checked?”
She urged her listeners to take their health seriously, get checked regularly, and advocate for themselves when they feel something is not right.
“You have to make space in your day for these appointments,” she said.
Rising melanoma cases in the UK
Ryan’s diagnosis comes amid rising skin cancer cases in the UK. Last year, Cancer Research UK warned that more needed to be done to protect people from the sun, as melanoma cases continue to increase.
The charity predicted that a record 20,800 cases of melanoma would be diagnosed in 2024 – an increase from an annual average of 19,300 between 2020 and 2022.
The rise in diagnoses has been attributed to an ageing population and greater awareness of skin cancer symptoms.
What is melanoma?
Melanoma, also known as malignant melanoma, is a type of skin cancer that can spread to other parts of the body. According to the British Skin Foundation, while melanoma is less common than non-melanoma skin cancers, it is one of the most dangerous forms.
The disease can develop from existing moles but more often appears as new marks on the skin. It can occur anywhere on the body, though it most commonly affects the back in men and the legs in women.
Warning signs and prevention
Experts advise people to regularly check their skin for changes, including new growths, changes in size, shape, or colour of moles, and any unusual skin patches.
Preventative measures include wearing high-factor sunscreen, covering up in the sun, avoiding sunbeds, and seeking medical advice if anything appears abnormal.
Katherine Ryan’s experience serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of self-advocacy and early detection in the fight against melanoma.
