Adrian Chiles confirms he's been diagnosed with cancer as he issues message to fans

Writing about his experience in the Guardian, the former Match of the Day host shared details of his journey through the healthcare system leading up to the diagnosis.

Mr Chiles acknowledged feeling fortunate to have private access to medical professionals, noting: "I called the dermatologist I had previously seen about it privately, and she told me not to be silly, it would be fine.

"A GP I know said the same. I thanked my lucky stars that I'm privileged to have access to such people."

Returning to hospital a fortnight later for the excision, Mr Chiles found himself confronting a more serious prognosis than initially expected.

He wrote: "This time, he said he was pretty sure it was cancer, cancerous, a carcinoma, whatever. What is the right bloody word to use anyway?"

The presenter described the unsettling moment when his doctor raised the possibility of further treatment, recalling: "This obviously raised the question, if it is cancer, then what do we do? 'Then,' he said, 'we have to have a conversation.'

"Honestly, I don't think there's a way of hearing this without it sounding ominous."

Mr Chiles admitted he simply wanted the procedure completed, writing: "All I wanted him to do was stop saying worrying things and, instead, whip out his scalpel, go in as deep as he fancied, and dig the bastard thing out."

The stitches were removed after ten days.

Mr Chiles moved to reassure his readers that the diagnosis was not as alarming as it might sound.

He wrote: "Oh yes, I almost forgot, it was a squamous cell carcinoma. All removed and won't spread. So not nothing, but not serious. Needs keeping an eye on."

The wait for results proved frustrating, with the broadcaster receiving appointment notifications through the NHS app but no information about his biopsy findings.

After struggling to reach anyone through automated phone systems, he eventually received a callback from a nurse who delivered the news he had been anxiously awaiting.

Reflecting on that conversation, Mr Chiles expressed profound gratitude for the personal interaction, writing: "The human contact feels as good as any treatment or cure."

Squamous cell carcinoma develops from cells in the outer layers of the skin, making it one of the more frequently occurring forms of skin cancer.

The condition typically presents as a firm, reddish lump or a scaly, crusty patch, most commonly appearing on areas regularly exposed to sunlight such as the face, ears and hands.

According to medical guidance, this type of cancer originates from an overproduction of squamous cells in the epidermis, with UV ray exposure being the primary cause.

While the condition is generally not considered life-threatening, medical professionals emphasise the importance of treatment to prevent the cancer from growing larger or spreading to other parts of the body.

Most patients require only minor surgery and do not need additional treatment, with cure rates for this type of cancer remaining high.

Mr Chiles enjoyed a distinguished broadcasting career spanning several decades, including a six-year stint presenting BBC1's Match of the Day 2.

He was subsequently recruited by ITV in a lucrative deal reportedly worth £6million over four years to front their World Cup and Champions League coverage.

Between 2007 and 2010, he co-hosted The One Show alongside Christine Lampard, with the programme regularly attracting audiences of around seven million viewers.

The Birmingham-born presenter also spent four years fronting The Apprentice spin-off programme You're Fired, and served as a key member of the BBC's coverage for Euro 2008 and the 2008 Olympics.

These days, Mr Chiles hosts a programme on Radio 5 Live and writes a weekly column for the Guardian, work he has described as more fulfilling than his higher-profile television roles.

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