SAM Champion opened up about a skin cancer scare in a heartfelt Instagram post on Wednesday.
The beloved GMA meteorologist bravely shared a selfie after having three pieces of skin “cut off” and urged fans to be health conscious.
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Sam, 62, shared a selfie after having cancer cells removed from his skin.
He posed in midtown Manhattan and was all smiles with a heart emoji drawn around a bandage under his eye.
“Three were removed and two checked,” he wrote over the photo, thanking the doctor.
‘CHECK EVERYTHING’
In the caption, Sam opened up about the scare and talked about the procedure.
“For the last 30 years I’ve been reminding you… please make sure you check anything that doesn’t look normal on your skin…
“I had a few places cut today and this one under my eye got a biopsy.
“I have removed dozens of skin cancers. Most of them were very simple basal cells, only one or two progressed further…
“Make sure you have a good relationship with your doctor so you can discuss anything that either of you doesn’t like.
“Thank you @drdendy! Next on my skin journey… We’re testing hypoallergenic sunscreens…
“This year my skin has become very sensitive to soaps, fragrances and chemicals.”
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WHAT A CHAMPION!
Fans supported Sam in the comments and wished him a speedy recovery.
“God bless you!! Thanks for sharing,” one user responded.
“Oh Sam, I’m so sorry you had to go through this, but you are blessed to have the doctor you truly trust!” wrote another.
“That is true. Everyone needs to be verified,” wrote a third.
SAM’S SKIN CANCER JOURNEY
The iconic meteorologist has been battling skin cancer for decades.
He received his first diagnosis in his early 20s.
Since he has undergone several surgeries to remove suspicious moles.
In a 2015 interview with Best Self Atlanta magazine, the TV anchor explained why he frequently gets procedures done.
“The problem is that there is no other way to treat it other than to eliminate it,” Sam said.
“But I’m on television every day, and that means other people are aware of what’s going on. When I have scars and loop stitches, people notice.”
Sam was keen to clarify skin cancer as it is not discussed as much as other conditions.
“It wasn’t a conversation people had regularly. I just wanted to discuss with people why I had these scars and stitches,” he said. “I was very surprised. I got a huge response. People were sending me photos and asking if I thought they had skin cancer.
“I thought, ‘We need to create awareness. People don’t want to feel like they’re being preached to, but we need to get people talking about skin cancer.'”
LIVE ON AIR SURGERY
In May 2010, Sam underwent live surgery for the most common form of the disease, basal cell carcinoma.
Sam blamed skin cancer on the bad advice he received as a child.
“Get your first sunburn of the season and then your skin will acclimate to the sun,” he remembers being told.
“The first time was a shock. I didn’t understand.
“And I realized that there are a lot of people like me who were scammed and were at risk.”
When his dermatologist discovered five suspicious moles in 2010 and told him he would need surgery, he decided to teach people about the dangers of skin cancer and the importance of protecting themselves.
“I said, ‘Let’s do this live,’” he boldly recalled in 2010 and had the surgery with a doctor live on GMA.
“I used to be like George Hamilton – always at the beach, always tan,” he says.
“Now, going to the beach, getting on a boat, I always use sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.
HAPPINESS PREVENTION
As open as Sam is about her health, the TV personality is equally transparent about her marriage to husband Rubem Robierb, routinely sharing photos of herself with the artist on social media.
Rubem was born in 1976 in Bacabal, Maranhão, Brazil.
Good Morning America Anchors
Good Morning America airs on ABC from 7am to 9am EST, Monday through Friday. The program features a panel of anchors who discuss the week’s events and current news. Anchors appearing on the morning show include:
Rubem, now a renowned artist, was a photographer in Brazil, working for a commercial photography company.
He held his first solo art exhibition in Brazil in 2005, which caught the attention of many art collectors and gallerists,
In 2008, Rubem moved to Miami, Florida, and began his work as a visual artist, working in Pop art, sculpture and photography.
Rubem’s art often has underlying social and cultural messages, as he creates pieces that advocate for climate justice and equal rights for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Sam and Rubem met in 2009 at a New Year’s Eve Party in Miami Beach, Florida. The couple dated for three years before getting married in the Manhattan apartment they still share.
Although Robierb works in Miami, Florida, the two could not legally marry in Florida in 2012.
The couple splits their time between New York City and Miami, while Champion flies back and forth every weekend to anchor the week’s weather on WABC-TV.
Although the couple has been married for 10 years, they are yet to have any children. And neither of them spoke openly about wanting children in the future.
Instead, much of her free time is dedicated to volunteering with charitable organizations like GLAAD, The Human Rights Campaign, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and many others.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
