Television and radio presenter Adrian Chiles has spoken candidly about the overwhelming public and private reaction he received after revealing a recent skin cancer diagnosis, admitting the response left him feeling both embarrassed and grateful.
The Diagnosis and Initial Announcement
The 58-year-old broadcaster first shared the news earlier in December 2025, telling his audience he had been treated by the NHS for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), a common form of non-melanoma skin cancer. Chiles explained that he had grown concerned about a patch of skin on his shoulder, which a subsequent biopsy confirmed was cancerous. The growth was removed just two weeks after he first consulted a dermatologist.
In his initial statement, Chiles was keen to provide reassurance, stating: "All removed and won’t spread. So not nothing, but not serious. Needs keeping an eye on." According to the NHS, non-melanoma skin cancers like basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and SCC begin in the skin's top layer and are highly treatable when caught early.
An 'Overblown' Wave of Concern
Writing in his latest column for The Guardian, Chiles described how "everything went nuts" following his announcement. A flood of thoughts and prayers arrived from friends, family, and even strangers, many of whom he had not personally informed as he considered the matter minor.
The scale of the reaction took him by surprise. He recounted being approached at a football match by a man who said he had been praying for him, and a burger van operator who shared his own, far more severe, experience with bowel cancer. Chiles confessed to feeling "initially embarrassed" and even "annoyed" by what he perceived as an overblown response, wondering if people had read beyond the headlines to understand the non-serious nature of his condition.
Navigating Compassion and Clarification
Chiles revealed a complex emotional response to the well-wishes. After his initial annoyance, he said he "felt bad about feeling annoyed as people were only being nice." He found himself carefully crafting replies to convey compassion for those sharing their own stories, while subtly clarifying that his situation was not comparable.
"But then perhaps, in the nicest possible way, he drew some comfort from having me in the same boat. It was a lot," Chiles wrote, reflecting on his exchange with the burger van worker. He concluded by stating he "still [feels] bad about the fuss," but remains deeply thankful for the care shown to him.
This is not the first time Adrian Chiles has discussed his health publicly. In 2019, he spoke about how a diagnosis of ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder), a type of ADHD, helped him understand a long period of anxiety and listlessness. The NHS describes ADHD as a neurodevelopmental condition with symptoms categorised by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
