Well-known Twitch streamer and gamer Ninja, whose real name is Tyler Blevins, recently shared that he has been diagnosed with melanoma, a type of skin cancer.
The 32-year-old internet personality took to X (formerly Twitter) to inform his millions of followers about his health, revealing that he had a mole on his foot that needed to be removed as a precaution. In a tweet on Tuesday, he stated, “There was a mole on the bottom of my foot that (a dermatologist) wanted to remove just to be careful. It came back as melanoma, but they are optimistic that we caught it in the early stages.” He also posted the same update on his Instagram story.
Following the initial diagnosis, Blevins shared that doctors also biopsied another dark spot near the mole on his foot and removed a larger area surrounding the melanoma. He expressed hope that his dermatologists would find clear non-melanoma edges in the test results, indicating that all cancerous skin cells had been successfully removed.
Grateful for catching the cancer early, Blevins encouraged his fans to prioritize their health and view his situation as a reminder to schedule regular skin checkups.
Melanoma is a form of skin cancer that arises when melanocytes, the cells responsible for producing pigment in the skin, begin to multiply uncontrollably, as described by the American Cancer Society. Unlike other types of skin cancer, melanoma is less common and has the potential to metastasize to other areas of the body if not detected and treated promptly.
According to the Mayo Clinic, melanoma typically appears on areas of the skin that are frequently exposed to sunlight, such as the arms, back, face, and legs, but can also develop on less sun-exposed regions of the body.
Since sharing his diagnosis, Blevins, known for streaming the popular video game Fortnite on Twitch, has received an outpouring of support from his online community, including fellow content creators like Daithi De Nogla, SypherPK, and Jake Lucky.
SypherPK, also known as Ali Hassan, sent his well wishes, saying, “Hoping for the best. Lots of love to (Blevins’ wife) Jess for being proactive as well.”
In response to the news, YouTube commented, “So thankful you caught this early. Sending lots of love and healing your way, Tyler.” – Los Angeles Times/Tribune News Service
