10 Celebs Who've Been Touched By Skin Cancer

Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the U.S. In fact, the Skin Cancer Foundation estimates that one in five Americans will develop some form of the disease in their lifetime. According to the foundation's web site, "nearly 800,000 Americans are living with a history of melanoma and 13 million are living with a history of non-melanoma skin cancer, typically diagnosed as basal cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma."

The famous faces on the list below are amongst those ranks -- celebrities who have either had skin cancer themselves or are spreading the word after a very close call.

The good news is that even melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer, is treatable under the right circumstances.

"Melanoma is almost always curable when it is found in its very early stages," according to the American Cancer Society.

So this May, National Skin Cancer Awareness Month, take a moment to remember to protect your own skin -- seek shade during midday hours, wear protective clothing, hats and sunglasses, slather on the sunscreen and skip indoor tanning. And be vigilant about regular screenings.

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• Ewan McGregor

  A few years back, the star had a cancerous mole removed from under his eye, <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7360233.stm" target="_hplink">telling the BBC</a> that he knew his fair skin -- and years spent enjoying the sun -- upped his risk. "I went to see a specialist who thought they were better to be removed, and indeed he was correct,"<a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7360233.stm" target="_hplink"> McGregor told the BBC.</a>

• Michelle Monaghan

  <a href="http://www.health.com/health/article/0,,20532015_2,00.html" target="_hplink">The actress told <em>Health</em> magazine</a> that her Aussie husband was instrumental in keeping her skin cancer from progressing. "A few years ago I had a mole on the back of my calf, and he was adamant that I get it checked," <a href="http://www.health.com/health/article/0,,20532015_2,00.html" target="_hplink">she told the publication.</a> "In Australia, they're very aware of skin cancer. I finally went and it was skin cancer."

• William H. Macy

  After appearing on her show with a small bandage on his nose, the actor told "Live! with Kelly" host Kelly Ripa he'd recently had a basal-cell carcinoma removed <a href="http://blog.sfgate.com/dailydish/2012/01/03/william-h-macy-recovering-from-skin-cancer-surgery/" target="_hplink"> (via SFGate)</a>. "I'm Scots/Irish heritage and (that's what I get) for spending a misspent youth in Georgia with no sunscreen," Macy said.

• Melanie Griffith

  The actress once underwent surgery to remove "the early stages of skin cancer from her face," <a href="http://articles.cnn.com/2009-12-18/entertainment/melanie.griffith.cancer_1_melanie-griffith-skin-cancer-surgery?_s=PM:SHOWBIZ" target="_hplink">CNN reported. </a> According to <a href="http://articles.cnn.com/2009-12-18/entertainment/melanie.griffith.cancer_1_melanie-griffith-skin-cancer-surgery?_s=PM:SHOWBIZ" target="_hplink">CNN,</a> Griffith's spokesperson explained that the surgery was done early enough to prevent any future complications.

• John McCain

  The politician has had at least four melanomas, <a href="http://articles.latimes.com/2008/may/24/science/sci-melanoma24" target="_hplink">the <em>Los Angeles Times</em> reports.</a> "Melanoma can almost always be cured in its early stages. But it is likely to spread to other parts of the body if it is not caught early," <a href="http://www.cancer.org/Cancer/SkinCancer-Melanoma/OverviewGuide/melanoma-skin-cancer-overview-what-is-melanoma" target="_hplink">The American Cancer Society explains.</a> "Melanoma is much less common than basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers ... but it is far more dangerous."

• Brooke Shields

  Though the actress is skin-cancer free, <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20280761,00.html" target="_hplink">she told <em>People</em> magazine</a> that her doctor once removed a precancerous mole from her face, which served as a real wake-up call. "All my girlfriends and I would go up on the roof in New York; we didn't have to be at the beach," <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20280761,00.html" target="_hplink">Shields told<em> People</em>,</a> explaining that she stopped tanning years ago. "You think that because you're not in the sun anymore, it's all in the past. And then something like that crops up and you're made aware of how dangerous it really can be."

• Laura Bush

  The former First Lady had a tumor removed from her shin several years ago, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2006/12/18/wh-laura-bush-had-skin-ca_n_36672.html" target="_hplink">the AP reported.</a> It was a squamous cell carcinoma -- a non-melanoma skin cancer -- the main symptom of which is a "growing bump that may have a rough, scaly surface and flat reddish patches," <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001832/" target="_hplink">the NIH explains.</a>

• Troy Aikman

  The former NFL quarterback was told he had 100 percent chance of survival after a malignant melanoma was removed from his shoulder back in the late 1990s,<a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1013047/index.htm" target="_hplink"> according to <em>Sports Illustrated.</em> </a>

• Anderson Cooper

  The star reporter had minor surgery to remove a cancerous mole from his face, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/19/anderson-cooper-has-surge_n_92338.html" target="_hplink">the AP reported.</a> <a href="http://www.accesshollywood.com/anderson-cooper-has-small-spot-of-skin-cancer-removed_article_8823" target="_hplink">As Access Hollywood explained,</a> he mentioned the procedure on his blog explaining that he had "a small spot of skin cancer removed from under my left eye."

• Lisa Gastineau

  The former reality TV star (who may be returning to it again soon) had a basal cell carcinoma inside her nose removed, which required doctors to remove part of her nostril, <a href="http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20348105,00.html" target="_hplink">according to <em>People.</em></a> She's also had melanoma removed from her thigh, and now is very careful to avoid the sun.

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Comments

[Educaskin]

10:34 PM on 05/21/2012

Learn how to easily protect your skin from the sun with mineral SPF!

Educaskin.blogspot.com

[SDMD]

04:49 AM on 05/17/2012

There is no reason to panic and be afraid of enjoying the sunshine.

It is simply important to use common sense.

http://carlsbadeyecare.net/

[krbpdx]

03:55 PM on 05/14/2012

This is news? I am 64, very fair, and have had 6 squamous cell carcinomas removed from my face and head. I am paying the price for some bad sunburns in my youth. Its no big deal, it doesn't take long to remove them and very few stitches. Its pretty routine, just keep an eye out for something that appears and doesn't go away, have you Dr. check you. Nobody should die of skin cancer that has the ability to read.

[traceymarie]

11:52 AM on 05/17/2012

nonsense, a small flat mole I had since birth turned into melenoma

[bushj1988]

12:46 PM on 05/17/2012

No big deal you say. It depends on the type of skin cancer you get. My mother had a mole removed from her back at the age of 48. It was Malignant Melanoma. She died 1 1/2 later at the age of 50. Reading has nothing to do with it.

[ReaderGuy59]

02:31 PM on 05/14/2012

Ms. Shields, and that woman from the sex city show, are two of the most hideous looking creatures out there. I literally shudder when I see either of them on the tube before I quickly change the channel.

[MrDoughnut]

01:53 PM on 05/14/2012

Hey and Cooper is related to Rockel Welch so exposure to the sun is a main incredient of skin cancer.

[MrDoughnut]

01:50 PM on 05/14/2012

Worship the sun you take the chance of getting more than a tan comprendo?

[MrDoughnut]

01:49 PM on 05/14/2012

How about Jane Fonda another one acting in the nude so it must be exposure to the sun light causing the cancer.

[MrDoughnut]

01:43 PM on 05/14/2012

Shields acted nude wirh Sarradon so could exposure be part of the problem?

[grneydmuse]

01:25 PM on 05/14/2012

I have milk white skin at 58 years old, it reminds me of my two-year old nephew's skin, and I never sit out in the sun...never.

[MrDoughnut]

01:55 PM on 05/14/2012

Look what happens to grapes left out in the sun they turn into raisins!

[defelicep]

01:24 PM on 05/14/2012

I don't believe the sun causes cancer. Not for a second. We'd die without the sun. And after a study I read by a credible source, it showed that cancer rates of all kinds were higher in the north than they are in the south. Could it be because people in the north lack vitamin D from the sun? My theory is that the skin cancer is caused by the tanning lotions we use. It's loaded with chemicals, then we rub it into our skin, then bake it and many of the chemicals in the lotion are known to cause cancer when activated by heat. We've been told for years to wear suntan lotion and stay out of the sun. Well if more people are using tanning lotion now than ever before, and the lotion is supposed to protect us, then why aren't skin cancer rates not going down? http://www.naturalnews.com/035855_sun_exposure_cancer_risk.html

[ReaderGuy59]

02:33 PM on 05/14/2012

Are you confusing tanning lotions with sun-block preparations, possibly?

[defelicep]

02:43 PM on 05/14/2012

They're both loaded with chemicals that were not meant to be absorbed into your skin.

[albertgraphics]

12:26 PM on 05/14/2012

Brooke Shields deffinitely won the genetic lottery. She's an old woman and I still wanna bone her.

[kaysquare]

01:11 PM on 05/14/2012

She's almost 47......not all that old really! And what are you, about 16?

[ReaderGuy59]

02:34 PM on 05/14/2012

I could only do so if one of us had a bag on our head. What a hideous looking creature she is!

[C Wayne Casteel]

12:11 PM on 05/14/2012

It's that California sun. If there is any doubt, just look at the areas of your body that the sun has never hit and notice how smooth and clean it is compared to sun exposed skin. I've had 4 basal cell and two squamous cell and they are no fun but are removable. Get immediate attention for dark rough places especially on face, arms, legs and neck areas. Melanoma will be dark in color. Don't fool around with melanoma, it's a killer.

[jgamble28]

11:37 AM on 05/14/2012

I wear sunscreen all year long even if I'm just going to be in the house. I redo it twice a day when I work driving a bus.

[liesabouttown]

11:14 AM on 05/14/2012

She's a fiiiine lookin gal.

[umass13]

10:41 AM on 05/14/2012

what gorgeous features, she was above average at best.
if it wasn't for bob hope taking a liking to this girl when she was young, she never would have done anything at all.

[Justgo4it]

10:56 AM on 05/14/2012

and how do you think people got discover? by sittin on their butts.

[umass13]

11:15 AM on 05/14/2012

just saying, there is nothing gorgeous about this women and she can not act

[amaclach]

11:32 AM on 05/14/2012

I could not agree with you more. In the Blue Lagoon, as a teen, she raised a lot of interest, but then she matured into the semi-grotesque giant of today. Maybe she's a nice person, however.

[umass13]

11:56 AM on 05/14/2012

possibly, but you know what they say.
beauty is skin deep, but ugly goes all the way to the bone