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The diagnosis was made by his dermatologist, Dr Tess Mauricio, during a routine check-up in Los Angeles. One of the patches was confirmed as melanoma, requiring urgent surgery. Instead of returning home after a busy tour in New York promoting his book, Life’s Fragile Moments, Lennon flew straight back to LA for the procedure.

“Fingers crossed for now,” Lennon wrote, expressing his hope for clear biopsy results, which he’s yet to receive. The operation, which involved removing large margins of tissue, was deemed a success. Lennon thanked his doctors for “once again, hopefully saving my life.”

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This isn’t the first time Lennon has faced a skin cancer scare. In 2020, he underwent surgery to remove a concerning abnormality on his scalp. That experience spurred him to advocate for regular dermatologist visits, urging his followers to “get checked twice a year if you can.”

Skin cancer is a particularly pressing issue for those with fair skin, like Lennon, due to the lack of melanin, which offers protection from UV rays. Studies have shown that individuals with white skin are significantly (up to 70 times in some studies) more likely to develop skin cancer than those with darker skin. According to Cancer Research UK, almost 9 in 10 of those diagnosed with skin cancer will live for a further ten years.

The announcement comes amid a series of high-profile cancer diagnoses in the music world. Patti Scialfa of the E Street Band and Roger O’Donnell of The Cure both revealed their own battles with cancer earlier this year. Elton John, who performed with Lennon’s father on the track ‘Whatever Gets You Thru The Night’, also shared his struggles with his own limited eyesight earlier this month.

Lennon’s openness with his fans and followers extends to his family relationships too. In a recent interview with Esquire, he spoke about his bond with his half-brother, Sean Ono Lennon. Dispelling tabloid rumours of feuds, he said, “We’ve never had a fight in our life,” though he acknowledged the challenges of living under the shadow of their father.

Now primarily focused on photography, Lennon has stepped back from the music spotlight, with his last major tour in 1999. However, his 2022 album, Jude, a nod to the Beatles’ song written for him, shows he hasn’t abandoned music entirely.

With hundreds of messages of support flooding in, including a heartfelt “Love you brother” from Sean, Lennon’s story serves as a reminder of the importance of early detection and prioritising health. Visit the NHS website to view the symptoms associated with skin cancer.

Buble said he and his wife, Luisiana Lopilato, had put their careers on hold in order to devote their time to taking care of their little boy. The ‘Haven’t Met You Yet’ singer has cancelled his forthcoming appearance at the annual event, held in London on December 12, in order to be with his three-year-old boy Noah and his family following the announcement that the toddler is battling the disease. The Canadian singer was due to perform at the awards at the ExCel London on December 12 alongside Kaiser Chiefs, Emeli Sande and Lukas Graham.

Buble and his wife of five years, Luisana, made the announcement about their elder son Noah’s health on the singer’s Facebook page. They said: “We are devastated about the recent cancer diagnosis of our oldest son Noah who is currently undergoing treatment in the US. We have always been very vocal about the importance of family and the love we have for our children. Luisana and I have put our careers on hold in order to devote all our time and attention to helping Noah get well.

“We have a long journey in front of us and hope that with the support of family, friends and fans around the world, we will win this battle, God willing.”

As well as the BBC Music Awards, Buble is set to host the Brit Awards in London on 22 February (17) and the Juno Awards on 2 April (17). Currently, he is still billed to appear at both.

BBC Music Director Bob Shennan said: “We send Michael and his family our very best wishes.”

According to the Daily Mail, during a recent appearance on ITV’s Loose Women, Buble praised his children for giving him ‘perspective’ and said that he was unaware how much he would enjoy being a father. He said: “The only regret that I have in my life is that I took this long to have kids, because I had no idea the perspective it would give me.

“I had no idea how much I would love being a dad. That’s it, that’s all I care about… I love them too much probably, if there was such a thing.

“It’s made everything else so insignificant, moments that I was afraid of and moments that would overwhelm me have now become a joy because I’ve realised how not serious they are compared to what is really important, which is Noah and Eli and that’s it.”