Hugh Jackman updates fans on cancer scare

Hugh Jackman recently opened up to fans about his health scare with skin cancer. The Australian actor revealed last week to his followers that he was undergoing testing for Basal Cell Carcinoma after his doctor’s noticed a suspicious spot.

In a video posted to his social media last week, Jackman updated his fans on his health worries. While wearing a bandage on his nose, the actor explained how his doctors noticed a spot on his nose and ordered two biopsies to check for cancer.

Luckily, in a newer update, Jackman has confirmed to fans that he is cancer free. In a post shared on the actor’s Instagram story, he explained that his biopsies came back negative.

“My biopsies came back negative!!! Thank you ALL for the love. I feel it!”, he wrote in the Instagram story.

Jackman’s previous cancer scares

The actor has been treated several times for Basal Cell Carcinoma in the past, first having had cancerous cells removed in 2013. He has had at least six procedures to remove cancer.

Basal Cell Carcinoma is a non-melanoma, meaning it is less likely to spread and easier to treat than other skin cancers. It is caused by overexposure to the sun or sunbeds and treatments are typically successful in 90 percent of cases, according to the National Health Service.

Australia is also the skin cancer capital of the world, with more than 11,500 people diagnosed with melanoma each year and an estimated 434,000 treated for other skin cancers yearly.

Sun safety

In Jackman’s initial cancer announcement, he emphasized the importance of protecting your skin with 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.

“No matter how much you want to tan: Trust me, trust me, trust me.

“Put some sunscreen on,” he said. “You’ll still have an incredible time out there. Please be safe.”