Confirming yesterday evening that he had been treated for a cancerous blemish on his face, Mark Lawrenson brought this initial news of the struggle along with its fortunate ending.
After 3 Months of Outstanding care at both Ormskirk & Whiston Hospitals I got the News that after 2 Operations & the Removal of my Facial Cancerous Blemish the Cancer hasn’t Spread anywhere..Phew..!! Waiting for the Verdict felt like a’SWORD OF DAMACLES’ moment... Thanx all.👍
— Mark Lawrenson (@MTLawrenson) September 6, 2018
Appearing to keep the whole incident to himself and those closest to him, the former Republic of Ireland international has today revealed the circumstances that made the possibility of the 'all-clear' that bit more likely.
Writing on the BBC Sport website, Lawrenson described how if it had not been for a conscientious viewer of the broadcaster's Football Focus, things may not have gone so smoothly for him.
Their message was I needed to get rid of it, or at least get it checked out urgently. I was already aware of the blemish and was planning to get an appointment about it but, like a typical 60-year-old bloke, I had been putting it off rather than sorting it out.
That email was the kick up the backside I needed. I went to get it looked at immediately, and it was cancerous so I had it whipped out straight away.
Incredibly, Lawrenson admits to not even knowing who the viewer in question was; "I never found out who the viewer was who contacted the show, but we are trying to track them down now."
"I would love to be able to get in touch to thank them, and hopefully this article will help that to happen."
Detailing the process that he went through in his open article, he similarly encourages "anyone with any similar doubts about a mark on their skin not to wait, and to do the same."
