Anchor Fights Skin Cancer Face To Face

(From The New York DailY News -- By Richard Huff)

Getting skin cancer reminded MICHELLE CHARLESWORTH how short life can be.

So now, four years after being diagnosed with skin cancer and having a lump surgically removed from her face, the WABC CORRESPONDENT AND ANCHOR is on a mission to let others know about the disease.

"I hope that people who don't think they're at risk will wake up and realize it can really have a negative effect on your life," Charlesworth said yesterday.

Charlesworth's battle with skin cancer occurred four years ago. In writing about the episode in the JULY ISSUE of SELF MAGAZINE, out today, she calls skin cancer "the most common cancer," and urges everyone to be alert for trouble signs. "I don't want people to ignore new bumps or forget the dangers of tanning."

Charlesworth learned of her skin cancer while reporting a story for WABC. She had noticed a white bump on her face, which she showed to her regular doctor, who told her to let her know if it didn't go away.

But she got a more startling response while doing a story on dermatologist DR. BRUCE KATZ. After the interview, A WABC CAMERAMAN asked Katz about a spot on his eyebrow. Charlesworth then asked about the bump on her face, which he said looked like skin cancer.

Charlesworth soon underwent surgery to remove a bit of her cheek.

Doctors shifted her skin to position the scar in her laugh line.

"I was off the air for a month, and for another month I did everything in profile," she said. "I wouldn't look straight into the camera and I wouldn't anchor the weekend show."

Now she's a zealot on reminding people to wear sunscreen.

"I accost them on the street," she said.

"I say, 'You look beautiful, look at this scar on my face. Sunscreen, sunscreen, sunscreen.'"