06 July 2023 , 09:27
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Deborah Meaden said she makes sure to get herself checked every year after a cancerous pimple was spotted on her face.
The Dragons' Den star, 64, was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in 2015, which is the second most common form of skin cancer – according to the Skin Cancer Foundation – and the majority of the cases can be easily treated.
A 'white pimple' showed up on her face and, thankfully, her makeup artist noticed the unusual spot.
According to the NHS, a squamous cell carcinoma is a type of non-melanoma skin cancer which "starts in the cells lining the top of the epidermis and accounts for about 20 in every 100 skin cancers".
A non-melanoma is a term used for a group of cancers which "slowly develop in the upper layers of the skin".
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Deborah's current diagnosis is "completely clear" but, previously, she was told she is prone to getting another squamous if she doesn't protect her skin from the sun.
Appearing on Lorraine on Wednesday, Deborah explained why she decided to speak out about the cancerous spot.
Host Christine Lampard said: "You're doing well I know you spoke last year about a skin cancer diagnosis something that you didn't even notice, but your makeup artist did."
Deborah was diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma in 2015 (ITV)Confirming the statement, Deborah answered: "It was the lovely Sue who made me up this morning. She just said I don't usually get spots and she noticed a little white pimple that had been there for about a month and said that it was unusual and I need to get it checked out.
"I spoke about it because I think most people think about skin cancers as moles or changes of colour or texture in the skin.
"And I spoke about it because I actually thought nobody ever told me to take a look at what looked like a tiny little white head. I still get myself checked every year because I'm obviously very prone to it."
The Dragons' Den star's makeup artist noticed the pimple while she was filming for the BBC show.
She now gets herself checked every year as she's 'prone' to it (ITV)She immediately sent a picture to her doctor before flying off to Africa.
"I sent a picture to my doctor, who said it could be something, it might not, but it could be something. Then he got me an appointment with a local hospital and I went along and they told me, 'You’ve got a squamous'," she previously told Boots' Taboo Talk podcast, hosted by Vogue Williams.
After she returned from Africa, Deborah had the squamous removed.
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She went on: "When I say I was lucky, we caught it incredibly early. I’m evangelical now about saying to people, if you’ve got a little odd pimple that won’t go, don’t just think it’s a pimple."
"I’ve always looked for moles, I know all the rules about moles, I’ve never looked for something that actually looked like a whitehead. I would never have known if it wasn’t for Sue, thank goodness."