Champion discussed treatment he sought for an unusual mark on his face, which turned out to be nodular basal cell carcinoma, on “Good Morning America” Friday.
“We started talking about it, and so many people were interested in it, we thought we’d continue the conversation,” Champion told Michael Strahan and fellow “GMA” hosts.
“I hope that one day no one has to go through surgery to get rid of skin cancer, but, right now, we have to keep our eye on our skin, our hands on our skin, be very vigilant and notice any unusual spots, and if those spots start to change, immediately get care.”
Sam Champion talking about his cancer on Friday’s “GMA.” ABC / GMA
Sam Champion discussed his cancer with the other “GMA” hosts. ABC / GMA Sam Champion in footage shown of his surgery to remove the skin cancer. X / @SamChampion
The morning show then showed footage of Champion’s surgery.
Champion, who tied the knot with his husband, Brazilian artist Rubem Robierb, in 2012, thanked fans for their support after he shared his diagnosis.
He said he had previously been diagnosed in his 20s, after too much time in the sun.
“When I’m not bringing you the weather, I love nothing more than being outside, but these days I wouldn’t think about going outside without sunscreen. It wasn’t always the case,” Champion continued.
He recalled getting “blistering sunburns” throughout a career of reporting outdoors, and shared that he had the cancer removed at New York City’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in early October.
Sam Champion on Friday’s “GMA.” ABC / GMA Sam Champion showed a clip of his surgery. ABC / GMA
Champion said on social media that he received three rounds of surgery.
“I didn’t want all that. I didn’t want a big gaping hole, and now, I’m going to have a big gaping hole,” he says in one video posted to X, formerly Twitter.
Champion said, “I’m not going to enjoy having a larger scar than I thought I was going to have, but that’s the way it’s going today.”
Sam Champion took viewers into his surgery. X / @SamChampion Sam Champion after his operation. X / @SamChampion Sam Champion giving the weather. ABC / GMA
After sharing an image of his scar following his operation, he noted: “Watch your skin and ask your doctor to examine anything that doesn’t seem right to you!”
On “Good Morning America,” he added, “The next phase of my journey will be scar care, and trust me, there is a lot of advancement in that as well.”
He left audiences with cautionary words: “No matter how old you are — my first one was at 26 — no matter what your skin tone, your skin type, your skin color, they’re cutting skin cancer off of everybody. So, it’s everybody’s issue.”
The Post reached out to ABC and “GMA” for comment.
Get updates delivered to you daily. Free and customizable.
It’s essential to note our commitment to transparency:
Our Terms of Use acknowledge that our services may not always be error-free, and our Community Standards emphasize our discretion in enforcing policies. As a platform hosting over 100,000 pieces of content published daily, we cannot pre-vet content, but we strive to foster a dynamic environment for free expression and robust discourse through safety guardrails of human and AI moderation.
Local News
