A former Norwich City footballer has urged anyone with unidentified skin blemishes to get them checked out after having a lump surgically removed from his left leg.
Iwan Roberts, 49, who made 306 appearances and scored 96 goals for the Canaries, said he had become a lot more aware of the dangers of skin cancer since having a malignant melanoma that he described as a 'dark, angry mole' removed from his forearm in 2004.
He said: 'I was told at the time that if I had left it another year it would have killed me. Ever since then I have paid much closer attention to any lumps on my body.'
He said he was given the all clear on his arm in 2010.
'In 2015 I noticed a scab on the top of my ear that didn't get any better. The guy who cut my hair suggested I should have it checked out so I went to see a doctor.'
He said it was removed, sent for testing and was given the all clear.
'Then last year I had two lumps removed from my hands. They were just like blisters that you get from too much sun but won't go away. The first was frozen off from my right hand in April and then soon after that I had the one on my left hand, which was slightly bigger, removed.'
Both returned negative results when sent for testing.
'I'm fair skinned and have quite a lot of freckles and was told that I might get more of these the older I get so I was warned to be careful.
'Now I've had one removed from my left leg which was sent away for tests and I'm waiting on the results.'
He said he had spent a lot of time in the sun growing up in north Wales and then later as a footballer.
'I didn't really look after myself and would spend hours in the sun without putting cream on. Maybe I'm paying the price for that now. It's important to create awareness around these issues and as soon as I notice anything out of the ordinary I get it checked out.'
Mr Roberts said that due to stitches in his leg he would have to give up running for up to four weeks.
'I run between 10km and 14kms a day on a treadmill to keep the weight off and keep fit.
'It's something I take quite seriously but will have to give it up for awhile. I don't think it will affect me from running the Norwich 10km in August though and am hoping I'll get to do it.'
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