Tim Allen: Skin Cancer Was “Missed Five Times” by Dermatologist
Actor and comedian Tim Allen has opened up about a cancer scare that went unchecked for years. This is despite the celebrity seeing a dermatologist regularly.
Terrifyingly by the time it was addressed, Allen said the skin cancer had been missed five times, and that the doctor said he would have to cut most of his nose.
Reported by LADbible, Allen told the story on Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast and credited a woman working at The Today Show for pushing him to take the mark on his skin more seriously.
Allen said the staffer noticed the spot and pointed out that he hadn’t done anything to get it checked yet, which led him to push for a review at his next appointment.
Always push when concerned
I grew up with Home Improvement in the background, so hearing Allen talk about his own face being on the line, it lands a little differently. It’s a stark reminder that no matter who you are, you have to get yourself checked.
During the podcast, Allen describes a sequence that changed everything. This time when he asked, “Hey, doc, would you take a look at this thing on my nose?” The dermatologist put on glasses “for the first time in 30 years,” and suddenly the tone in the room shifted.
Moments later, Allen says the doctor blurted out an expletive and called for help, and then admitted he’d “screwed up.”
Just Jared noted that Allen said he was told it could be melanoma or carcinoma, and that it had been “missed five times.”
The fact something like this can be missed five times is evidence to keep pushing, even if you trust the expert.
Cutting off most of your nose
Another doctor then delivered a line nobody wants to hear. Wide Open Country reported Allen said the surgeon told him, flatly, “I’m going to have to cut most of your nose off.”
Parade added that Allen leaned on humor to get through the moment, because that’s what comics do. He joked that unless he was going to pull a Blazing Saddles bit with “the guy with the silver nose,” the doctor had to leave “some of my f***ing nose” so he could still do comedy.
Maher, for what it’s worth, said the end result looked “undetectable,” and Allen agreed the surgeon did great work.
MovieWeb noted the same takeaway, the scar wasn’t obvious, even if the story behind it is hard to shake.
What makes a spot look suspicious?
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, one common way doctors and patients judge melanoma risk is the ABCDE guide. This stands for Asymmetry, Border, Color, Diameter, and Evolving. The E matters massively, anything changing fast, bleeding, itching, or just not acting normal needs a closer look.
The American Cancer Society notes that the ABCDE rule is meant to help people spot warning signs early, but it’s not a substitute for getting checked. This is especially true if something is new or changing and you’re constantly exposed to the sun.
Information from the CDC shows skin cancer is common in the U.S., with millions treated each year. Basic protection can help, for example use shade when UV is high, wear long sleeves and a wide-brim hat if sun is bright. Plus, always use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with at least SPF 15.
If you’ve got a spot you keep ignoring, or one you keep meaning to ask about, bring it up directly at your next health visit. Even if you feel like you’re over-cautious.
More About:Cancer