Cancer

I was watching TV the other day and I saw dozens of shows and news about Michael Jackson's commemoration and I got the chance to find out more about his life and health or let's say lack of it. I simply don't know how much of what I saw on TV is journalistic exaggeration in an attempt to bring audience , but something must certainly be true since it appeared on more channels and I also googled the information. The unusual piece of news I heard said that the pop star had suffered from skin cancer and had to undergo surgery from having some melanoma removed from his skin. I really don't know if it's true as everything about MJ seems to be a bit blurry, but apparently more than one source claims that.

Any way, that was only a pretext for finding more information about famous people with skin cancer. To my surprise there are quite a few of them. This proves once again that famous people, too, can suffer and even die from diseases and no matter how much money you have, this can't give you some more life.



If this case was questionable and not publicly admitted, the other famous people with skin cancer I found admitted it and fought it and were survivors, even if the cancer chose to come back a few times. This is the living proof that skin cancer is rarely deadly, but it does affect your general health state and can get worse if left untreated.

Some historians claim they found evidence in some official papers belonging to George Washington, the first American president, who said he had a growing cell formation on his nose that turned into skin cancer in the end. Then there's  former resident Ronald Reagan and his daughter Maureen who actually died of skin cancer wen she was 60. Another president - the same problem - George H. Bush, but also Bill Clinton and Dwight Eisenhower, too.



They had the cancer or pre-cancer formations removed from the face or nose ot wherever they were located, but they did not advertised that problem too much because it was considered a personal matter. Senator John McCain, who was also a candidate for president has survived three battles with skin cancer and fortunately he is still active.

But not only politicians are punished with skin cancer, but actors and musicians, too. For example Roger Moore, Elizabeth Taylor, Cybill Shepherd, Clint Eastwood, Melanie Griffith and Ewan McGregor had all underwent surgery to have some cancer and pre-cancer moles removed from their faces especially. They all say they have learnt a valuable lesson that life is more important than any nice looking tan and that you must always take precautions because nobody is cancer proof.

Bob Marley, the once reggae king is unfortunately a sad example because he died at a very young age - only 36 because he suffered from a combination of skin cancer and brain cancer and that proved too much for him. Most of these people have tried to take advantage of their public position and lead skin cancer awareness campaigns, speaking publicly about their experiences and trying to make people understand it's very important to protect against the sun but also to have regulat doctor check-ups.

If you know some other names , please fell free to add to my list by posting a comment.