Julian Lennon is sharing his recent health battle.
On Thursday, Dec. 18, the 51-year-old son of the late Beatles member John Lennon and his ex-wife Cynthia Lennon, revealed on X that he had been diagnosed with skin cancer and had to undergo emergency surgery.
Julian said that he received the diagnosis after seeing his Los Angeles dermatologist Dr Tess, who “caught & operated on My Mole/Skin Cancer, a few years ago, and literally saved My Life.”
After going on a press tour in New York, the musician and photographer received a call from Dr. Tess that he had to come back to Los Angeles for surgery.
“After having just finished GMA, I received a message from Dr Tess, with some urgency to return to Los Angeles, as I had 2 locations on My Skin, Shoulder & Forearm, one of which was Melanoma, that should be operated on ASAP!,” he wrote.
Julian Lennon at the 2023 MusiCares Persons Of The Year Gala held at the Los Angeles Convention Center on February 3, 2023.
Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty
According to the Mayo Clinic, most melanomas are caused by exposure to ultraviolet light and usually affect skin on the face, arms, back and legs.
Julian went on to say that he had to fly back to Los Angeles and go straight to surgery “with a surgeon recommended by Dr Tess, @timneavin – who spent several hours cleaning up and operating on me, with large margins, in the hope that we have, at the end of the day – clear margins, which would mean being free from cancer.”
And he’s not out of the woods yet.
“The operation was a success, but we have yet to have the results of the biopsy, which we may not receive before Christmas…,” he said.
Julian expressed his gratitude for his medical team amid this stressful time.
“First of all, I’m very thankful to Dr Tess and Dr Tim, for being able to coordinate this surgery at such short notice, but for once again, hopefully Saving My Life,” his caption read. “One can never be too confident in circumstances like this, but we all believe that Dr Tim has saved the day… So fingers crossed for now.”
Julian went on to urge his followers to get themselves checked by doctors.
“It only takes a short while to do so, and you may just be saving your own life, at the end of the day… so please, for the sake of yourself, your family and friends just go to your Dr and do what must be done,” he wrote. “I love life, and I want to live for a very long time and this is one way, and a choice, that could determine your future… I wish you all happy holidaze and a healthy long life.”
Concluding his caption with “Love to all,” Julian shared black and white snaps of his surgery scars.
