14 DAY TRIAL // “Wolverine” actor Hugh Jackman has been diagnosed with skin cancer and has already had surgery to remove it. In an admirable move, he is using his experience to raise awareness on the importance of getting regular checkups.
Attached to this article is a photo of Jackman right after the surgical intervention, with a bandage on his nose. He posted it on Instagram, along with a caption urging his followers to get checked out if they notice anything odd on their skin, such as it happened to him with a mark on the nose.
“Deb said to get the mark on my nose checked. Boy, was she right! I had a basil [basal] cell carcinoma. Please don't be foolish like me. Get yourself checked. And USE sunscreen!!!” the actor writes.
According to the National Institutes of Health, the basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of cancer and, at the same time, the most widespread in the United States, with 2.8 million American people diagnosed annually.
It usually appears in areas most exposed to the sun, such as the nose, the back and the top of the head, and it “grows slowly and is usually painless,” and, in many cases, it might not look any different from the rest of the skin.
Treatment options are varied and, in the majority of cases, this type of cancer is not deadly. However, the best course of action about it is prevention.
“The best way to prevent skin cancer is to reduce your exposure to sunlight. Ultraviolet light is most intense between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., so try to avoid sun exposure during these hours. Protect the skin by wearing hats, long-sleeved shirts, long skirts, or pants. Always use sunscreen,” NIH says.
Use sunscreen all the time, even on cloudy or cold days, at the mountain or on the beach. Stay away from tanning lamps and beds, this goes without saying.