World number one Twitch streamer reveals he has cancer

Ninja, the world’s number one Twitch streamer with 19 million followers has revealed a troubling health diagnosis.

Twitch streamer and professional gamer Tyler "Ninja" Blevins. Picture: Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP.

The gaming community has been devastated after Ninja, the number one streamer on Twitch, revealed that he’d been diagnosed with skin cancer.

The 32-year-old dropped the sad news in a heartbreaking post on Twitter/X, reported the New York Post.

“All right I’m still in a bit of shock but want to keep you all updated,” the Fortnite player — real name Tyler Blevins — who boasts a record 19 million Twitch followers.

The Illinois-born streamer explained that doctors had found a cancerous mole on his foot after going to an annual dermatologist check-up at the behest of his wife Jessica.

Twitch streamer and professional gamer Tyler "Ninja" Blevins. Picture: Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP.

“There was a mole on the bottom of my foot that they wanted to remove just to be careful,” described Blevins, who also has nearly 24 million YouTube followers.

“It came back as melanoma, but they are optimistic that we caught it in the early stages.”

According to the US’ Mayo Clinic, melanoma is a type of skin cancer associated with exposure to ultraviolet light of the type generated by the sun, tanning beds and other sources. One of the more common skin cancers in younger people, melanoma is generally denoted by changes in existing moles, although it can sprout up on otherwise healthy skin.

Ninja, who’s reportedly also having a second suspicious spot checked out to be safe, said he’s “grateful” doctors caught the cancer early and encouraged his followers to schedule regular checkups.

Ninja has 19 million followers on Twitch.

The update had the gaming community reeling.

“Hoping for the best,” wrote fellow Twitch streamer SypherPK. “Lots of love to Jess for being proactive as well”.

Canadian gamer and YouTube streamer Nick EH 30 added, “Sending the best vibes your way!”

Meanwhile, gaming enthusiast and former NFL quarterback Robert Griffin III also sent Ninja his best wishes, writing: “Praying for you brother”.

After first joining Twitch in 2011, Ninja quickly became a fixture on the platform for his viral play-troughs of the multiplayer game Fortnite. The YouTuber’s videos became so popular that players can pay to make their characters resemble him.

Ninja said he noticed a spot on his foot which was found to be cancerous. (Picture: Johannes EISELE / AFP)

In March 2018, Blevins set a Twitch.tv record for a single individual stream while playing Fortnite when he hosted a game with rappers Drake, Travis Scott, and NFL rookie-cum-gamer JuJu Smith-Schuster.

The stream attracted a whopping 628,000 concurrent viewers.

The gamer broke this record a month later during his eponymous event Ninja Vegas 2018, where he amassed an audience of 667,000 live viewers.

Millions follow Ninja who plays computer game Fortnite. Picture: Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP.

Ninja has also been recognised outside the gaming sphere, notably appearing on season two of US version of The Masked Singer.

Ninja’s announcement comes less than a week after Princess of Wales Kate Middleton revealed that she’s battling cancer that was discovered following a major abdominal surgery in January.

This story was published in the New York Post and is reproduced with permission.