Rachel Maddow reveals she underwent surgery for skin cancer

MSNBC host Rachel Maddow revealed on Wednesday night that she recently underwent surgery to remove a cancerous mole from her neck.

“I am going to be absolutely fine,” said on her primetime program. “But that is why I have a Band-Aid.”

Maddow said she has been doing well since Friday’s surgery and that her longtime partner first pointed out the mole to her when they were at a minor league baseball game.

“I could’ve come back right away. I could’ve been on the air Friday night. I didn’t want to do that because I didn’t want to weird you out because of the visual of me having the Band-Aid,” Maddow told viewers on Wednesday night.

After three days off over the weekend, Maddow said she was eager to resume hosting her show to “use this moment” to urge people with skin moles to get them checked early and often.

“You should get checked,” she said. “If you’ve got moles like I do, just get on a schedule with your doctor. Schedule a check now with your doctor.”

Rachel @Maddow shares that she had surgery last Friday to remove skin cancer. “I am going to be absolutely fine.” Her message to viewers: “You should get checked. If you’ve got moles like I do, just get on a schedule with your doctor. Schedule a check now with your doctor…” pic.twitter.com/NUD9PJjpCk

— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) October 7, 2021

“I’ve always been blowing off stuff like that forever because I’ve assumed it will always be fine,” Maddow added. “Do not blow it off.”

MSNBC’s highest-rated prime-time host recently inked a new deal with the network at a reported $30 million a year that will keep her with the company through the 2024 presidential election.

As part of the reported deal, Maddow’s nightly show will end next year as she shifts her focus to a new and more wide-ranging program that will air weekly.