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WSOC-TV chief meteorologist discusses fight with skin cancer

By Allison Latos, wsoctv.com
By Allison Latos, wsoctv.com

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Chief Meteorologist Steve Udelson had surgery Monday to remove skin cancer from his ear.

He wanted to share his story Thursday and ask Channel 9 viewers to pay attention.
 
This is not Steve's first bout with skin cancer. Ten years ago, he was open with Eyewitness News viewers about his first diagnosis.
 
"This one thought, just all of a sudden one night, shot through my head: 'Maybe this is skin cancer," he said in April 2006.
 
Steve had basal cell carcinoma on his back. It's the most common type of skin cancer and is easy to treat if caught early, which it was.
 
This time, it was a little more serious, Steve said.
 
"The kind that I have now is called squamous cell," he said. "It affects different layers of skin. It can go a little bit deeper. If left alone for a very long time, it can actually spread."
 
The cancer is at the top of Steve's right ear. He was the one who discovered it.
 
"(It) would come and go, but it was pretty sore and (when) I'd put sunglasses on or whatnot and bend my ear, I'd feel it," he said. "It was on the cartilage, which I thought was a little strange, but I thought I'd better go in and get that checked."
 
Dr. Briana Heniford, Steve's surgeon, said skin cancer can affect anyone, regardless of race or skin tone, even if a person has never had a sunburn.
 
"The kind of skin cancers that are most common aren't even related really to sunburns; they're just related to cumulative sun exposure," she said.
 
Steve has always enjoyed the outdoors and for many years, he admits, somewhat recklessly.
 
"I was a product of the '60s and '70s. You went out to the beach, (and) people put oil on literally to try to get a tan. And that was just creating a burn. And the vast majority of the skin damage as I've come to learn now is done when you're a kid," he said.
 
Heniford was able to remove all the cancer on Steve's ear, although healing will take some time. Viewers may notice it, at least for a while, but Steve said that's not necessarily a bad thing.
 
"Honestly, it leaves a scar, and I'm on TV, so people will see it. But you know what, it will also be a reminder every time people see me, and hopefully they'll see this and remember sunscreen," Steve said. "That will help."

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