Hollywood
Hugh Jackman opens up about skin cancer scare
The Australian actor is undergoing testing for basal cell carcinoma.
Hugh Jackson is opening up about his recent health scare. The Australian actor revealed he might have basal cell carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancer.
In a recent video posted to his Instagram account, ‘The Wolverine’ actor urges fans to wear sunscreen as he explains why he is wearing a bandage across his nose.
In the video he shared, Jackman, 54, has a large bandage across his nose and goes on to tell his followers that his doctors recently noticed a spot there and ordered two biopsies to confirm whether the spot is cancerous or not.
He reassures fans that he will find out in two to three days and will update his followers as soon as he knows. “Just to remind you: Basal cell, in the world of skin cancers, is the least dangerous of them all,” he explains.
Jackman has previously received treatment for basal cell carcinoma several times, including having skin cancer removed from his nose in 2013. These previous incidents made the actor even more cautious of the risk.
What is Basal cell carcinoma?
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) s the most common form of skin cancer, arising from abnormal, uncontrolled growth of basal cells. Since BCCs grow slowly most are curable and cause minimal damage went caught and treated early.
Importance of wearing sunscreen
If I can just take this opportunity to remind you: Summer is coming for those of us here in the northern hemisphere. Please wear sunscreen. It is just not worth it,” Jackman said.
He goes on, “No matter how much you want to tan: Trust me, trust me, trust me.”
Jackman also explained how he belies the damage done to his skin occurred decades ago. “This is all stuff that happened 25 years ago, and it’s coming out now,” he said.
According to Dr. Joshua Zeichner, who works at Mount Sinai Hospital’s Department of Dermatology skin cancer can show up many years after unprotected sun exposure, which many people don’t think about.
Jackman ended his Instagram PSA by joking that wearing sunscreen won’t take any of the fun out of summertime.
“Put some sunscreen on,” he said. “You’ll still have an incredible time out there. Please be safe.”