Jonas Brothers' Kevin Jonas shares health update and cancer awareness message after surgery

Jonas Brothers star Kevin Jonas has sent out a vital message to his followers after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous mole. The musician took to Instagram earlier this week to update fans on his health, revealing that he had a basal cell carcinoma excised from his scalp.

In the social media post, Kevin urged his followers to stay vigilant about their skin health. He wrote: "Friendly reminder to get your moles checked."

Accompanying the caption was a video of him lying down, where he explained: "So today I am getting a basal-cell carcinoma removed from my head."

He continued, highlighting the seriousness of the situation: "Yes, that is an actual little skin cancer guy that has started to grow. And now I have to get surgery to remove it."

Kevin then pointed the camera towards his hairline to show the small mark. Following the procedure, he posted a clip showing himself peeling off the dressing, though he didn't reveal the aftermath of the surgery, reports Wales Online.

Later, Kevin appeared in his car sporting a tiny plaster where the mole had been and shared: "Alright, I'm all done," before adding, "Now it's time to heal, heading home. Make sure to get those moles checked people," as he concluded the video.

The candid share garnered positive reactions from fans, with many thanking him for his transparency. One fan expressed gratitude by commenting: "Thank you for being real and honest about your situation. Skin cancer is always looked at from a 'cut it off and done' kinda cancer. You sharing opens doors for others to realize how important it is to check your skin! Hope surgery went well and keep sharing your experiences, it truly matters."

Jessicaleewalter commented: "So happy you got checked out and had it removed. Just make sure to check any new moles that pop up or change in appearance."

What exactly is basal cell carcinoma?

The NHS describes basal cell carcinoma, or BCC, as a type of non-melanoma skin cancer, which is one of the more prevalent forms of cancer originating in the skin's top layer. Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the other primary type of non-melanoma skin cancer.

Non-melanoma skin cancers are often quite treatable. The term 'non-melanoma' is used to differentiate these more frequently occurring skin cancers from the rarer and more aggressive melanoma, which can spread more quickly within the body, as per NHS Inform.

A persistent lump or discoloured patch of skin that doesn't heal after several weeks is often the initial indicator of non-melanoma skin cancer. Key risk factors for non-melanoma skin cancer include exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, either from the sun or sunbeds. Other risk factors include:

• pale skin that burns easily in the sun

• red or fair hair

• blue or green eyes

• a large number of freckles or moles

• had a lot of sun exposure and you've had sunburn a lot in the past

• used sunbeds a lot

• a history of skin cancer in your family or you've had skin cancer before

According to the NHS, individuals with brown or black skin have a reduced risk of developing non-melanoma skin cancer, but it remains a possibility.

Signs and symptoms of non-melanoma skin cancer

The primary sign of non-melanoma skin cancer is typically a growth or an abnormal patch on the skin. This can manifest anywhere on the body, including the head, face and ears, neck and shoulders, back, hands and lower legs.

Cancer Research UK has outlined that symptoms of skin cancer, such as sores or an area of skin that doesn't heal within four weeks, looks unusual, and hurts (such as being itchy, bleeds, crusts or scabs for more than four weeks). The charity advised to watch out for:

• A sore that doesn't heal - The sore can look see through, shiny and pink or pearly white. It can also look red. It may feel sore, rough and have raised edges.

• Ulcer - Look out for an area of skin that has broken down (an ulcer) and doesn't heal within 4 weeks, and you can't think of a reason for this change.

• A lump - This might be small, slow growing, shiny and pink or red.

• Red patches on your skin - These red patches could also be itchy. This could be due to other non cancerous skin conditions. But get it checked to make sure.

• Freckles or moles - A change to a mole or freckle can be a sign of another type of skin cancer called melanoma.