NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Gov. Kathy Hochul was back at work within hours on Friday after undergoing a skin cancer removal procedure in the morning, and she used to opportunity to spread awareness about the importance of early detection on #StandUpToCancerDay.
Hochul first announced her diagnosis with basal cell carcinoma on Thursday, describing it as “a tiny, tiny speck on [her] nose.” Basal cell carcinomas are among the most common and easily treated forms of cancer, especially when caught early.
In an initial video posted on social media Friday morning, Hochul was with dermatologic surgeon Dr. Jesse Lewin of Mount Sinai who described the procedure.
“It’s short, it’s done with local anesthesia, we use lidocaine, we remove it, we try to spare as much normal tissue as possible, and we fix it nicely,” Dr. Lewin said to Hochul. “And you’re going to do great.”
The governor ended the video by reminding New Yorkers to “be vigilant, stay out of the sun, use a lot of sunblock, and take care of yourself.”
Three hours later, Hochul posted a second video showing her back at work.
She was wearing a small bandage on her nose that she said will be there for a little while, and noted she may experience swelling or a black eye.
Hochul thanked New Yorkers for the messages and well-wishes she received regarding her diagnosis, and again used the video as an opportunity to encourage others to keep up with their medical appointments.
“Early detection is everything. This was tiny. I noticed it, my doctor noticed, we got it removed, sparing all kinds of problems in the future. You need to do the same,” the governor said. “Keep an eye on your body, get your checkups and make sure your family does the same, because there’s nothing like early detection to make sure it doesn’t happen to you.”