Kevin Jonas Reveals Skin Cancer and Surgery to Remove Basal Cell Carcinoma
Kevin Jonas, the 36-year-old musician and member of the Jonas Brothers, took to social media on June 11 to share a personal health update with his fans. The singer revealed that he had undergone surgery to remove basal cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer, from his hairline.
In a video posted on his Instagram, Jonas began by reminding his followers of the importance of skin health. "Friendly reminder to get your moles checked," he captioned the post, which featured footage from before and after his procedure. The video starts with Jonas lying down and preparing for the surgery.
"So today, I am getting a basal cell carcinoma removed from my head," he explained, pointing to the area of concern. "Yes, that is an actual little skin cancer guy that started to grow, and now I have to get surgery to remove it."
Basal cell carcinoma is one of the two most common forms of skin cancer. It is highly treatable if detected early, according to Rogerio Neves, MD, PhD, a plastic surgeon in the Cutaneous Oncology Department at Moffitt Cancer Center. The other most common form of skin cancer is squamous cell carcinoma.
Rogerio Neves, MD, PhD
“Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is about 9.6 times more common than cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) in young adults aged 18 to 39 years. Although skin cancers like these are relatively uncommon in younger people, doctors should consider that younger people can also have skin cancer when evaluating suspicious lesions and advising patients on self-examination,” Neves added.
“Additionally, younger women are more likely than men to develop BCC than cSCC, with a BCC to cSCC ratio of 12.56 in women versus 7.22 in men aged 18 to 39. This sex difference diminishes with age, becoming almost negligible in people 65 and older. The higher rate of BCC in young women might be linked to behaviors like indoor tanning, which is more common among them.”
Jonas positively shared his experience and emphasized the importance of regular skin checks. "Make sure to get those moles checked, people!" he urged his followers, highlighting the critical role of early detection in successful treatment.
His story serves as a reminder of the importance of sun protection. Vigilant sunscreen application, protective clothing and regular health check-ups are all key strategies to prevent basal cell carcinoma.
