Tyler Belvins, the American streamer popularly known as 'Ninja', shared that he's been diagnosed with melanoma, a type of skin cancer. Taking to social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the 32-year-old icon of Fortnite fame, boasting a staggering 19 million followers on Twitch, disclosed that a mole removed from his foot had been confirmed as cancerous. Additionally, a second concerning dark spot on his foot is currently under examination.
Despite the shock of the diagnosis, Ninja expressed gratitude for the possibility of early detection, stressing the importance of regular check-ups for everyone.
Here's what he tweeted:
Since his resurgence on the streaming scene in 2020, after a brief stint on Microsoft's Mixer platform which folded in June of the same year, Ninja has become synonymous with Twitch. His influence extends beyond the gaming world, with players even able to emulate his likeness in Fortnite. Furthermore, his widespread recognition has seen him featured on mainstream shows like the US version of The Masked Singer.
'Caught In Early Stages'
Ninja revealed that the diagnosis came to light during a routine visit to a dermatologist for his annual mole check-up. Recounting the experience, he stated, "There was a mole on the bottom of my foot that they wanted to remove just to be careful." He continued, "It came back as melanoma, but they are optimistic that we caught it in the early stages."
What Is Melanoma?
Melanoma is a form of skin cancer that arises from the overgrowth of melanocytes, responsible for skin pigmentation. While melanoma constitutes a smaller percentage of skin cancer cases, its potential for metastasis poses significant health risks if not promptly diagnosed and managed.