Sports reporter Julie Stewart-Binks announced that she hasn’t been on TV the last few weeks because she is recovering from surgery after a cancer diagnosis.
“Personal note: I haven’t been on TV or working the past two weeks because I had Moh’s surgery to remove squamous cell carcinoma from my nose,” she wrote via X on Wednesday, October 7. “I thought it was a pimple that wouldn’t go away, turns out it was cancer. I share this so that hopefully it inspires others to get checked [if] something feels/looks off.”
Stewart-Binks, 39, continued, “The cool part about this, is not only did they remove all the cancerous cells, but they grafted part of my ear 👂🔪👃 onto my nose. I’ve played hockey my entire life, but never felt more like a hockey player than I do now. Sew me up and put me in coach.”
Squamous cell carcinoma is the second-most common form of skin cancer in the United States, accounting for about 15 percent of cases, according to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Squamous cell skin cancers most commonly appear on parts of the body frequently exposed to the sun.
Mohs surgery, which Stewart-Binks underwent, has the highest cure rate for this type of cancer. The procedure involves a doctor removing the affected skin, layer by layer, and examining it for cancer cells before proceeding to the next layer. Though time consuming, the procedure ensures the tumor is completely removed.
The initial recovery period for Mohs surgery is just a couple weeks, but the scar left behind can take over a year to heal.
Stewart-Binks’ colleagues took to her replies to send their well-wishes as she recovers.
“Praying for a speedy recovery for you, Julie! 🤍,” NHL Network analyst Kasey Hudson wrote.
Toronto Maple Leafs reporter David Alter added, “Glad they caught it. Wishing you a speedy recovery.”
A veteran sports reporter who has extensively covered hockey and soccer, Stewart-Binks’ most recent career stop has come with SNY, where she has hosted the network’s Sportsnite show and contributed to its hockey coverage, according to her LinkedIn page.
Stewart-Binks is a Toronto native and came up covering the Maple Leafs and Anaheim Ducks for local stations before she caught on at FS1. She later worked for ESPN, Barstool Sports and Fubo Sports Network.
In 2025, Stewart-Binks filed a lawsuit against former Fox executive Charlie Dixon, alleging he pushed her against a wall and forcibly kissed her in a hotel room in 2016. Dixon was placed on administrative leave and eventually left the network, but denied any wrongdoing. That June, Stewart-Binks requested the case be dismissed, telling The Athletic that she was “pleased that this matter has been resolved.”
