Emmerdale actor Liam Fox has spoken out about his eight-year struggle to obtain a skin cancer diagnosis after being initially dismissed by doctors.
The 54-year-old, who left the ITV soap in summer 2023 after playing Dan Spencer, underwent surgery earlier this month to remove a carcinoma patch.
In an interview, Liam expressed his relief, stating: "I've been lucky. If this had been a 'melanoma' rather than a 'carcenoma' it could kill you."
He also shared his experience of waiting eight years for treatment, telling The Sun: "None of us want to be that person that nags the NHS, we know they're busy we know they're overworked, but when you know in yourself that something's not right, you've got keep pushing."
As an actor, Liam is best known for his 12-year stint as Dan on the popular ITV soap opera Emmerdale, which he left in 2023. Recently, he has made headlines for his battle with skin cancer, publicly discussing it to raise awareness.
Earlier this month, it was revealed that he had received treatment to remove a basal cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer that can develop anywhere on the body, most commonly in sun-exposed areas. Liam took to Instagram earlier this month to update his followers on the removal of his cancer, reports the Mirror.
Alongside a selfie displaying his scar, he wrote: "Just changing the dressing after my #carcenoma removal and thought I'd post the picture... nice work from #sthelens NHS England but another reminder to cover up...I've been using plenty of sun screen for decades, this could likely be damage from my teens when I didn't think about the dangers #SkinCancerAwareness #coverup at least I'm perfect for gangster castings now."
His supporters rallied around, with one wishing him well: "Wishing you a speedy recovery, Liam. I hope it's all sorted for you matey."
Engaging with his fans, Liam shared the hurdles he faced in getting treatment, responding with: "All sorted mate... I had to keep pushing for a long time to be heard mate... fobbed off for ages."
Although his stint on the ITV soap was initially meant to be brief, what started as a six-week job turned into a lasting engagement that has spanned over a decade.
In real life, the soap star has been married twice. Liam first walked down the aisle with ex-Hollyoaks actress Nicole Barber-Lane in 1999, with whom he shares a son, Ben, 23, and a step-daughter, Gemma, 26.
However, their relationship came to an end in 2015. He later rekindled romance with his second wife Joanna Hudson, whom he originally met at the University of Salford. After initially parting ways, the pair were brought back together and married in 2020.
Liam has also been open about his father's long-standing battle with alcoholism. Speaking to The Mirror two years ago, he recounted his dad's 40-year struggle with addiction, which tragically resulted in his death in February 2021 at the age of 73 from pneumonia, exacerbated by a daily intake of two bottles of vodka.
Liam reflected on the painful experience: "Dad struggled with alcoholism for nearly 40 years of my life and it was absolutely horrendous for us to watch him get so regularly drunk knowing that one day he would die from the demon drink. Even though we repeatedly warned him if he didn't stop drinking he would die, he couldn't help himself. If by me talking about what happened can help others, then that has to be a positive thing. Nobody should have to suffer in silence."
Emmerdale is on ITV1 and ITVX
