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Deb Knight urges Influencers to stop "glorifying tanning"

<p>Deborah Knight, 51, has spoken out against influencers who glorify tanning as she shared the results from her annual skin check. </p> <p>The TV and radio presenter, shared a series of photos showing the sun damage on her skin, as she reminded her followers to stay sun safe and get their skin checked. </p> <p>"Got off pretty lightly from my annual skin check. Just a few barnacles zapped but nothing serious this time round," she began in the caption. </p> <p>"Timely reminder to get your skin checked and protect it from the sun in the first place," she added, before tagging two melanoma treatment specialists and the Melanoma Institute Australia. </p> <p>She signed off the post with the hashtag #stopglorifyingtanning. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2n1Rtth20D/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C2n1Rtth20D/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Deborah Knight (@deborah_knight)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>The <em>Money News </em>2GB<em> </em>host has regularly shared her skin journey and has previously opened up about the "true extent" of the "damaging effects of the sun" on <em>9Honey</em>.</p> <p>"As a blonde, fair-skinned child growing up by the beach, I resisted putting on zinc and sunscreen as much as my own children do now," she said in the interview in 2023. </p> <p>She added that she now has to pay the price and has to get her age spots frozen off every year. </p> <p>"I've had a Basal Cell Carcinoma surgically removed from the bridge of my nose, leaving a scar far worse than the damage it could have done if left untreated, possibly spreading and destroying skin, tissue, even bone," she said. </p> <p>She also spoke out about the influencers who glorify tanning. </p> <p>"These are often the same influencers who recommend spending a fortune on anti-ageing treatments and creams and serums, despite willingly exposing their skin to the most damaging ageing element there is – the harsh Aussie sun," she added. </p> <p>According to the <a href="https://melanomaresearch.com.au/about-melanoma/what-is-melanoma/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australian Melanoma Research Foundation</a>, one in 17 Australians will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetimes, with melanoma reportedly the third most common cancer in the country, following prostate cancer in men and breast cancer in women.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

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Sarah Ferguson diagnosed with malignant melanoma – here are the latest treatments for this increasingly common skin cancer

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sarah-allinson-137762">Sarah Allinson</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/lancaster-university-1176">Lancaster University</a></em></p> <p>News that Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, has recently been diagnosed with malignant melanoma highlights the dangers of this increasingly common skin cancer.</p> <p>Malignant melanoma affects <a href="https://www.iarc.who.int/cancer-type/skin-cancer/">325,000 people worldwide</a> every year. While it’s not the most common form of skin cancer – typically, for every one diagnosed case of melanoma, up to ten non-melanoma skin cancers are diagnosed – it causes <a href="https://theconversation.com/skin-cancer-more-people-die-from-types-that-arent-melanoma-surprise-new-finding-215378">almost as many deaths</a>. The reason for this is because it’s far more likely to spread, or metastasise, to other sites in the body compared to non-melanoma skin cancers.</p> <p>Melanoma arises in a type of pigment-producing skin cell called a <a href="https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/melanoma-skin-cancer/about/what-is-melanoma.html#:%7E:text=Melanoma%20is%20a%20type%20of,to%20grow%20out%20of%20control.">melanocyte</a>. These cells produce and export melanin in order to provide a protective layer in the skin which helps to screen out ultraviolet (UV) radiation.</p> <p>Mutations in genes that normally carefully regulate cell growth and survival override the controls that ensure the body only produces the cells it needs. The result is uncontrolled cellular growth, or a tumour, that normally appears as an unusual-looking mole.</p> <p>The mutations that drive the growth of a melanoma usually happen as a result of exposure to UV from the sun or from an artificial source, such as a tanning bed. We know this because when a melanoma’s genome is compared to that of a normal cell we can see a high number of mutations that have a <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-1943-3">characteristic “UV signature”</a>. For this reason, melanoma skin cancers occur most frequently in people who have light-coloured skin and who are exposed to high amounts of UV.</p> <p>Non-melanoma skin cancers are also mainly caused by exposure to UV but arise from a different kind of skin cell called a keratinocyte. These are the cells that normally make up the majority of the outer part of our skin, called the epidermis. Cancers that arise from keratinocytes are less likely to spread than those that come from melanocytes – although <a href="https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/non-melanoma-skin-cancer#heading-One">they can still be fatal</a>.</p> <p>In the duchess’s case, the melanoma was discovered during treatment for breast cancer. Her dermatologist recommended that some moles be removed for biopsy during breast reconstruction surgery. After testing, one was identified as malignant melanoma.</p> <p>If the results of the biopsy show that the cancer hasn’t spread, then like the majority of patients with melanoma, the duchess will be treated with surgery. In this case the tumour will be removed along with some of the surrounding normal skin.</p> <p>The amount of normal skin removed depends on the results of the biopsy – in particular, how deep into the skin the tumour has penetrated (called the <a href="https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/melanoma/staging-of-melanoma">Breslow thickness</a>). The normal skin will be checked for any signs that cancerous cells might have spread out of the tumour.</p> <p>For most people diagnosed with melanoma, particularly if it’s at an early stage, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK481850/">surgery will cure the cancer</a> and they will be able to go on with their lives. But for around <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8544364/">20% of patients</a>, additional treatment will be needed. This happens if their cancer has spread further into the body or if their cancer can’t be treated surgically. The <a href="https://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/OP.21.00686">good news</a> for these patients is that the past decade has seen huge improvements in treatment.</p> <p>Previously the only options other than surgery were radiotherapy or non-specific chemotherapy treatments. These treatments work by affecting the ability of cells to copy their DNA, which prevents them from duplicating and causes fast-growing cancer cells to die. But because these also affect the patient’s normal cells, they were accompanied by severe side effects – and were often ineffective.</p> <p>But we now have a better understanding of the specific changes melanoma makes to cell growth pathways. This has led to the development of drugs, such as <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/news-events/cancer-currents-blog/2022/fda-dabrafenib-trametinib-braf-solid-tumors">dabrafenib</a> and <a href="https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Trametinib">trametinib</a>, that specifically target cells with these altered pathways. In other words, they only target the cancerous cells.</p> <p>These drugs are much more effective and have fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapies – although about half of patients who initially respond to them relapse within a year. In these patients a few of the tumour cells survive by activating other pathways for growth and use these to <a href="https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/cncr.30435">regrow the tumour</a>. Promisingly, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10417341/">a recent study</a> suggests that re-using these drugs after a period off them can have good results in relapsed patients.</p> <p>Another exciting development in the treatment of malignant melanoma has been the use of immunotherapies. These involve harnessing the patient’s own immune system to fight the tumour.</p> <p>One particularly successful immunotherapy approach for melanoma involves the use of drugs called checkpoint inhibitors. These prevent cancer cells from being able to hide from the body’s immune system. A <a href="https://www.ejcancer.com/article/S0959-8049(23)00694-9/fulltext">recent report</a> has highlighted how the introduction of these treatments has led to improved survival for melanoma patients.</p> <p>Although the duchess’s skin cancer was discovered while she was being treated for breast cancer, it’s unlikely that the two are related. A more likely risk factor is the duchess’s famous red hair. People with red hair and pale skin that tends to freckle and burn in the sun are at a greater risk of developing skin cancer because their skin produces <a href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/gene/mc1r/#conditions">less melanin</a>. This means that their melanocytes are exposed to higher levels of UV and are more likely to undergo cancer-causing mutations.</p> <p>While melanoma is much more common in people with the duchess’s skin type, it’s important to be aware that anyone can get it. It’s a good idea to regularly check your skin for unusual looking moles and to contact a doctor for advice if you have a mole with any of the so-called <a href="https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/melanoma/symptoms">ABCDE characteristics</a>: such as an asymmetrical shape, irregular, blurred or jagged border, uneven colour, is more than 6mm wide and is evolving (either in size, texture or even bleeding).<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/221647/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sarah-allinson-137762">Sarah Allinson</a>, Professor, Department of Biomedical and Life Sciences, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/lancaster-university-1176">Lancaster University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty </em><em>Images </em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/sarah-ferguson-diagnosed-with-malignant-melanoma-here-are-the-latest-treatments-for-this-increasingly-common-skin-cancer-221647">original article</a>.</em></p>

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"Time moves like a river": Heartbreaking final words of Aussie writer taken too young

<p>Natalie Fornasier has passed away at the age of 28 following a years-long battle with metastatic melanoma cancer.</p> <p><em>The Sydney Morning Herald</em> confirmed the news with an obituary on January 28, announcing that Natalie had died on January 14. </p> <p>“Beloved Wife of Alexander,” the obituary read, “much loved Sister of Alex, loving daughter of Peter & Lorena. Adored daughter-in-law of Kirsten. She will be dearly missed by her grandparents, aunties, uncles, cousins, Natalie’s German family & devoted ‘Little Helpers’.”</p> <p>Natalie received her first diagnosis when she was 20 years old after spotting a large mole on her toe, and was informed that she had Stage III metastatic melanoma. </p> <p>In December, Natalie shared the news with her followers that her condition had progressed to Stage IV. </p> <p>“At the end of July, I received the news that my cancer was now terminal and had months left to live,” she wrote. </p> <p>“It’s not easy to admit that I’m dying. At 28 years old… everything about it feels wrong. The conversations I’ve had to have, the plans I’ve had to make, the places my thoughts have gone and are still going - none of it is natural. It’s painful,” she went on, “for four months I’ve grappled with sharing this news. </p> <p>“But I'm here now, and that's because I want to take back control over my own agency. I am the one telling my story, as I always have. There are so many things in my life I can’t control but this I can.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl57HVJPnE8/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cl57HVJPnE8/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Natalie Fornasier (@nataliefornasier)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Natalie wrote of her husband, Alexander, and the love the two shared, telling her audience, “my one goal in life was to love. I’ve experienced a love that is all consuming - something so deeply precious and powerful and soul changing that I know that even though I’m leaving this earth, that energy and love will never die. Alexander and I have grieved together, and he has shared so many ways of how he will keep me in his life, which brings me peace as I face the unknown. But know this, no matter where I am, I’ll still be here – in some way.”</p> <p>The couple were married in a “secret” ceremony on November 26, as Natalie revealed in a new post two days later. </p> <p>On December 21, four days before Christmas, Natalie shared her final update with supporters. She passed away less than one month after. </p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CmaQzRuha8V/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CmaQzRuha8V/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Natalie Fornasier (@nataliefornasier)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“Today marks four weeks in palliative care. It’s absurd it’s been that long - time is so fluid, it feels like none has gone by but the calendar says otherwise,” she said, going on to write of how she missed her home and her experience with palliative care. </p> <p>“It’s one minute at a time for me right now - and I’m so thankful that, that is still a possibility. If my time here has taught me anything - it’s that time moves like a river. You’re unable to see the beginning or the end but you can feel it - so you better make the most of it. Even if that means napping next to your loved one for hours so long as you’re together.”</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

Ray Hadley hospitalised

<p dir="ltr">2GB radio host Ray Hadley has been forced to take a temporary leave of absence from his show due to a major health scare and has used it to send a message to other Aussies about their health.</p> <p dir="ltr">The 67-year-old underwent an “important surgery” to remove a lesion that his wife discovered on the back of his leg which continued to grow and bleed.</p> <p dir="ltr">Becoming concerned, Hadley visited a clinician and had a biopsy taken from the lesion for testing.</p> <p dir="ltr">Several weeks later he received the good news that it wasn’t cancerous, but it would still need to be removed.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ahead of his return to the airwaves next week, Hadley told his co-host Mark Levy that he was feeling good post-operation and that the surgery had been a success.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I've ended up with 60 stitches in the back of my leg,” he told listeners on Tuesday.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I'm okay … but that's what you can end up with.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Hadley has used his recent health scare to urge Aussies, particularly men, to stay on top of their health and go see their GPs.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I've been a big advocate for men's health for the last two decades, telling blokes, especially in the bush, to go and see their GP,” Hadley said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I concentrate on blokes because they're not as good as ladies at going and discussing their medical problems, and more recently, in light of what's happened to Paul Green's family and Paul Green himself, mental health is another one to advocate for.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Recounting his latest experience, Hadley said he took his own advice and went to the Melanoma Institute in northern Sydney, where he underwent a biopsy.</p> <p dir="ltr">“They weren’t happy with it, so they said, ‘We’ve got to take it out’,” he explained.</p> <p dir="ltr">When he was told the surgery might require a skin graft and that the lesion would be tested to determine whether it was a melanoma, he said he’d expected it would just be “a little wound” and not the large, 60-stitch wound he was left with.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You've got to check your health, because if I had let this linger and not done something about it, it's quite possible it could have transformed from what it is into something more sinister and become life-threatening,” he added.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Check your body, you blokes, especially if you're in the sun and spend a lot of time outdoors, get your partner to check what's going on, things you can't see on your back and talk to your GP about prostate cancer, bowel cancer, about heart health.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Levy said his co-host’s stitches made it look like he had been “bitten by a shark” and echoed Hadley’s message to Aussies to get their skin checked.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If you're worried about a little spot, just get it checked,” Levy said. </p> <p dir="ltr">“You can't leave it too long.”</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-8bd55deb-7fff-88a8-a157-0576064e8908"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: The Ray Hadley Morning Show (Facebook)</em></p>

Caring

Model’s tiny mole turns out to be cancer

<p dir="ltr">A model who completely disregarded what she thought was a mole on her ankle has been diagnosed with cancer. </p> <p dir="ltr">Oceana Strachan would regularly get her skin checked to ensure she was safe from melanoma and was constantly given the green light. </p> <p dir="ltr">But she knew something was wrong when the tiny mark on her ankle was itchy and had risen a bit - raising the alarm as to whether or not it was something else. </p> <p dir="ltr">Doctors dismissed it as a mole but Oceana pushed for a biopsy to be done and it was found to be stage two melanoma. </p> <p dir="ltr">“My melanoma spot looked like a regular mole but I noticed changes like itching that raised a red flag for me,” she told <a href="https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/aussie-model-shares-warning-signs-after-tiny-find-led-to-sinister-diagnosis-c-6840204" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Going through melanoma, I didn’t know if I was going to survive. I didn’t know the outcome.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CdnQNQ9JBWg/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CdnQNQ9JBWg/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by OCEANA HEGYI 🤍 (@oceanastrachan)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">Oceana underwent surgery in May 2021 where the affected skin was removed and saw the then 25-year-old back on her feet not too long after.</p> <p dir="ltr">A year later, Oceana spoke out about how early detection saved her life and cringed at not being sun safe. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I was 25 with olive skin... unfortunately melanoma doesn’t care how old you are or what type of skin you have,” she said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Obviously it sucks that I’ve had to go through this but I am just one out of too many.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Image: Instagram</p>

Body

A smart way to monitor melanoma

<div> <div class="copy"> <p>Monitoring for a recurrent <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/science/biology/inside-a-melanoma-cell/" target="_blank">melanoma </a>may be as simple as using a smartphone, according to Australian and New Zealand <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://doi.org/10.1001/jamadermatol.2021.4704" target="_blank">research,</a> published in <em>JAMA Dermatology.</em></p> <p>This may provide feasible, patient-led follow-up care to monitor whether melanomas return.</p> <p>“People who have had one melanoma have an increased risk of developing an additional one, especially during the first few years,” says Professor Monika Janda of the University of Queensland, who was involved in the study.</p> <h2>Pilot study shows promise</h2> <p>A small pilot study of 100 patients found that using a skin-checker app and a magnifying device attached to a smartphone provided a safe way to monitor signs of cancer coming back after melanoma is removed.</p> <p>“We gave patients special devices for their mobile phones, which allows them to take really precise photographs of skin lesions,” says Janda. “These are all patients who have had melanoma before.”</p> <p>This group used the smartphone app at home, and they found more signs of melanoma compared to people who went in for hospital surveillance</p> <p>“We found that there were quite a number of additional signs found by people themselves at home, which was really interesting,” says Janda.</p> <h2>Less travel for melanoma patients</h2> <p>Normally, patients need to travel to their doctor or hospitals for surveillance, which can be difficult and time-consuming. The smartphone method provides a feasible alternative that could be conducted at home.</p> <p>“It could save some of the current visits to the doctor that people do regularly after they’ve had a melanoma,” says Janda,</p> <p>“That could be particularly beneficial for people who live far away from their treatment centre and have to undertake extensive travel to reach them.”</p> <p>As this was a pilot study, a larger, randomised clinical trial is required to see how this monitoring would relate to more patients in the long term.</p> <p>“It’s a pilot study, so it’s not yet definite. But we’re currently undertaking a bigger study,” says Janda.</p> <em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></div> <div id="contributors"> <p><em>This article was originally published on <a rel="noopener" href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/body-and-mind/a-smart-way-to-monitor-melanoma/" target="_blank">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Deborah Devis.</em></p> </div> </div>

Body

New cancer-fighting drug is already saving lives

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Australian researchers have made a breakthrough while trialling a new drug that has already saved lives of those battling melanoma.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Over 700 Australians were involved in the clinical trial with Melanoma Institute Australia, including Sydneysider Andrew Bennett.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 57-year-old dad had melanoma tumours spreading through his leg that had disappeared in the six months after he underwent immunotherapy.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“You get your life back. It’s hard to express. When you think you’re going somewhere else and you’re not. It was sort of life-changing in many respects,” Mr Bennett said.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Immunotherapy treatment uses the body’s own immune system to fight cancer using drugs called “checkpoint inhibitors”.</span></p> <p><strong>How does immunotherapy work?</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Immune checkpoints are part of the immune system and prevent immune responses from being so strong it destroys healthy cells.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To do this, proteins on the surface of immune cells bind to proteins on other cells and stop the immune response.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But, these proteins can also bind to those on tumour cells, which means that the immune system is stopped from attacking the cancer.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Checkpoint inhibitors stop these proteins from binding to cancerous cells so that the immune system can destroy the cancer.</span></p> <p><strong>A new option</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Until now, only two checkpoint inhibitors have been used for treating melanoma, and the breakthrough means a third option is now available.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The new treatment, called Relatlimab, is the first to target LAG-3, a protein in immune cells.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When used in combination with drugs already available, it has been found to be less toxic for patients.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">Successful trial of new cancer treatment led by <a href="https://twitter.com/ProfGLongMIA?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ProfGLongMIA</a> AO, to be presented at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ASCO2021?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ASCO2021</a> this w/e. Relatlimab, immunotherapy targeting LAG-3 protein, is new weapon to save lives from <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/melanoma?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#melanoma</a>, with potential for other cancers. <a href="https://twitter.com/ASCO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ASCO</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/syd_health?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@syd_health</a> <a href="https://t.co/VTBhnwWlXA">https://t.co/VTBhnwWlXA</a></p> — Melanoma Institute (@MelanomaAus) <a href="https://twitter.com/MelanomaAus/status/1400256672564715524?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 3, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It means that the patient tolerates the treatment better with a lower chance of side effects,” said Professor Georgina Long AO, senior lead author of the trial.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“And in fact, they have a very high quality of life. Most people are able to work full-time and enjoy life as if they didn’t know they had cancer.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Clinical trials have commenced to test the effectiveness of the drug on other cancers including lung, liver, head and neck, and kidney cancer.</span></p>

Body

Emergency surgery for Nine's Peter Overton

<p><span>Channel Nine newsreader Peter Overton has revealed he had to undergo emergency surgery this week after his doctors discovered there was something unusual during a routine skin check.</span><br /><br /><span>The veteran journalist shared a worrying photo from his hospital bed on Twitter after having Melanoma removed, adding he was a “lucky fella”.</span><br /><br /><span>“I have fair skin & am vigilant re my skin checks every few months,” he wrote.</span><br /><br /><span>“My wonderful dermatologist spotted something unusual on my right temple-Melanoma. Surgery yesterday to remove it. I am a lucky fella.”</span><br /><br /><span>He went on to urge others to regularly get their skin checked as well.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838723/peter-overton.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/70d57d9f86314522b7c44515a008f6e4" /><br /><br /><span>“For those thinking about getting their skin checked. Do it. Now,” he said.</span><br /><br /><span>The 54-year-old was flooded with a number of well wishes from plenty of his Channel Nine colleagues sending their support.</span><br /><br /><span>“Wishing you a speedy recovery Pete! It's never the same in the newsroom without you,” Nine News reporter Kelly Fedor replied.</span><br /><br /><span>Derryn Hinch thanked him for sharing his journey, writing: “I call it the mole patrol and have caught dangerous growths about 6 times .Good advice.”</span><br /><br /><span>“Thanks for sharing. Hopefully it prompts others to get checked regularly. Glad they found it early! All the best for a speedy recovery!” another follower agreed.</span><br /><br /><span>“Thank you for raising awareness Peter. Wishing you a speedy recovery,” was another response.</span></p>

News

Important health hints hidden in your eye colour

<p>Your eye colour is mostly determined by the luck of the genetic draw. Although there are things you can do to improve your eyesight and keep your eyes healthy, there’s not much you can do to change your eye colour.</p> <p>However, your iris colour might reveal more about your health than you think.</p> <p>Here’s what you need to know about dark and light eyes, and all the shades in between.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837672/01-brown-eyes-shutterstock_1438302062-770.jpg" alt="Dark eyes: May have a lower melanoma risk" data-udi="umb://media/57b271b070354877ba6815722bfd6bf1" /></p> <ol> <li><strong> Dark eyes: May have a lower melanoma risk</strong></li> </ol> <p>Dark-coloured irises might indicate you have a lower risk of the skin cancer melanoma.</p> <p>In a study published in <em>Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention</em>, researchers took DNA samples and gathered sun exposure data from nearly 500 white children, ages 6 to 10, for four years.</p> <p>Children with the blue eye gene were more likely to develop moles compared to children without the gene. (The number of moles people develop during childhood can predict the risk of melanoma in adulthood.)</p> <p>Other research has found that people with blue or green eyes are at greater risk of melanomas of the eye, most likely because they have less light-absorbing pigment to shield the eyes from sun damage.</p> <p>But no matter what your eye colour meaning may infer, it’s always a good idea to protect your eyes with sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of ultraviolet radiation or UV-absorbent contact lenses, says Christopher Quinn, OD.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837673/02-puffy-eyes-gettyimages-171580559-770.jpg" alt="Dark eyes: May be less likely to have macular degeneration" data-udi="umb://media/efba3ca1081347e99104da5cb9c300d3" /></p> <ol start="2"> <li><strong> Dark eyes: May be less likely to have macular degeneration</strong></li> </ol> <p>Your eye colour meaning can give insight into your overall eye health. “A dark iris blocks more ultraviolet light,” says Quinn.</p> <p>“UV light is a risk factor for macular degeneration.</p> <p>Extra light that gets into the eyes of people with light-coloured irises may cause them to have more retinal degeneration.”</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837674/03-yellow-spots-eyes-gettyimages-746122853-770.jpg" alt="Light eyes: May be less likely to have vitiligo" data-udi="umb://media/e929b3f8046946748e0f2cad54032c86" /></p> <ol start="3"> <li><strong> Light eyes: May be less likely to have vitiligo</strong></li> </ol> <p>In a University of Colorado School of Medicine study, researchers tracked nearly 3,000 people with vitiligo, an autoimmune disease in which a person’s immune system attacks healthy pigment cells and causes skin blotches.</p> <p>Researchers identified 13 genes linked to a predisposition to vitiligo. They found that people with the disease were less likely to have blue or grey eyes than those without it.</p> <p>People with vitiligo are at higher risk for other autoimmune diseases such as lupus, type 1 diabetes and thyroid disease.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height:281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837675/04-dark-eyes-shutterstock_299269262-770.jpg" alt="Dark eyes: May drink less alcohol" data-udi="umb://media/44f3eed8c39c42f4af327f65b25c8e65" /></p> <ol start="4"> <li><strong> Dark eyes: May drink less alcohol</strong></li> </ol> <p>In a Georgia State University analysis of 12,000 white men and women, researchers found that people with light eyes drank more alcohol and were more likely to abuse it than people with dark eyes.</p> <p>(They looked at data from one study in roughly 10,000 male prisoners and a second from a survey of about 1,800 women.)</p> <p>But, why the link? Researchers hypothesise that it could be due to melanin, the pigment that makes eyes darker.</p> <p>Melanin is involved in electrical connections between brain cells. If the amount of melanin in the eye (dark-eyed people have more) correlates with the amount of melanin in the brain, it could mean dark-eyed people are more sensitive to stimuli like alcohol, which means they may get tipsy off less alcohol than light-eyed people do (and therefore less likely to drink to excess).</p> <p>Still, more research is needed. “People with light irises drink more, that’s an undeniable conclusion of this study,” says Quinn.</p> <p>“What’s harder to say is whether it’s the iris colour that determines if people drink or don’t drink. It shows an association, not a causal relationship.”</p> <p><strong>Images:</strong> Shutterstock / Getty Images</p> <p><em>Written by Kelsey Kloss. This article first appeared on <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/conditions/eyes/4-things-your-eye-colour-might-reveal-about-your-health" target="_blank">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a rel="noopener" href="http://readersdigest.com.au/subscribe" target="_blank">here’s our best subscription offer</a>.</em></p>

Eye Care

Hey Hey It’s Saturday star John Blackman undergoes more facial surgery

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p><em>Hey Hey It’s Saturday</em> star John Blackman has undergone more surgery on Monday after doctors were forced to remove his jaw to save him from skin cancer.</p> <p>He shared a photo of himself recovering in Melbourne’s Linacre Private Hospital, showing his face bruised and stitched together.</p> <p>“My journey towards becoming George Clooney's stunt double for all his love scenes (or the part of Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz) continued today,” John joked on Monday.</p> <p>“Huge thanks to all the wonderful staff and my plastic surgeon Doctor Frank!”</p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">My journey towards becoming George Clooney's stunt double for all his love scenes (or the part of Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz) continued today at Linacre Private Hospital. Huge thanks to all the wonderful staff and my plastic surgeon Doctor Frank! <a href="https://t.co/9Xta5eDB3E">pic.twitter.com/9Xta5eDB3E</a></p> — JohnBlackman (@johnblackmanhey) <a href="https://twitter.com/johnblackmanhey/status/1259757239964844045?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 11, 2020</a></blockquote> <p>He last went under the knife in February to have a ‘gutter’ placed in his mouth to stop him from dribbling. This is after his jaw was completely removed and was replaced with a reshaped section of his fibula.</p> <p>John was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, which is a type of skin cancer that accounts for around 70% of non-melanoma skin cancers. He was first diagnosed in 2018 when he found a lump on his chin which he initially thought was a pimple.</p> <p>Speaking to 3AW's Neil Mitchell in March 2019, John said: “It's like I've had an accident. It's like I've ploughed into a tree and my life has changed forever.</p> <p>“There are people out there far worse off, and I'm reminded of that everyday,' he said, adding that he had to communicate through eye movements while in recovery.”</p> <p>The beloved former voice of Dickie Knee on the show said he has a newfound appreciation for people with disabilities and their resilience.</p> <p>“Sometime's it's like Groundhog Day, every morning I wake up and look in the mirror and think "maybe today it'll change" but it's still there,” he said.</p> </div> </div> </div>

Body

How to recognise melanoma

<p>Out of all the nations of the world, New Zealand holds the unenviable title of having the world’s highest rate of invasive melanoma, with around 50 cases diagnosed per 100,000 people in 2016. Back in 1999, the rate was 77 cases per 100,000 people. With increased awareness of how to identify a melanoma early, experts believe this number can be reduced even further.<br /><br />It’s important to realise that not all skin cancers are melanoma. There are three main types: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma – the most serious. If left undetected and untreated, melanoma can lead to death. For people with early-stage melanoma, the outcome is excellent. According to Melanoma New Zealand, being able to recognise the first signs of change of an existing mole, or the appearance of a new mole, is key.<br /><br />If you are concerned about a mole … Being aware of how your skin normally looks will help in deciding to seek a medical opinion, should you notice a new mole, or a mole that changes appearance.<br /><br />When checking your skin, use the ABCDE system to help you remember what to look for:</p> <ul> <li><strong>A</strong>symmetry: The two halves of the mole don’t match.</li> <li><strong>B</strong>order irregularity: The edges of the mole appear jagged, irregular or blurred.</li> <li><strong>C</strong>olour: The colour isn’t uniform.</li> <li><strong>D</strong>ifferent from other lesions: Has the lesion changed in comparison to the surrounding moles, particularly in size? Melanomas are typically bigger than 6mm in diameter.</li> <li><strong>E</strong>volving: An existing mole has grown, or a new mole has appeared.</li> </ul> <p>You should also see your doctor if you spot a dark area under a nail that is getting bigger and is not caused by an injury.</p> <p><em>For more information, go to <span><a href="http://www.melanoma.org.nz">www.melanoma.org.nz</a></span>, <span><a href="http://www.melanoma.org.au/">www.melanoma.org.au</a></span> and </em><em><span><a href="http://www.melanoma.org">www.melanoma.org</a></span></em></p> <p><em>This article first appeared in <a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/beauty/skin/how-recognise-melanoma">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestsubscribe?utm_source=readersdigest&utm_campaign=RDSUB&utm_medium=display&keycode=WRA85S">here’s our best subscription offer</a>.</em></p> <p><img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" /></p>

Beauty & Style

Are you at risk of skin cancer?

<p>Are you a man over 55 from Queensland? We’ve got some bad news. According to a new study, your demographic accounts for the most non-melanoma skin cancers diagnosed in Australia.</p> <p>Researchers from QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute analysed Medicare data and found that one in 14 adults over the age of 30 had at least one non-melanoma cancer cut out between 2011 and 2014, and half of those had more than one removed.</p> <p>Over 183,000 skin cancers were removed in the four years examined, and it was discovered that rates in Queensland were almost twice the national average and nearly three times the average of Victoria and Tasmania residents.</p> <p>“They’re typically older males; men over the age of 70, if they get one skin cancer they are really likely to get more,” lead researcher Professor David Whiteman told AAP.</p> <p>“Our results show that by the age of 70 years, around half of all Australian men treated for skin cancer will have another excision within four years," Professor Whiteman said. </p> <p>“These kinds of skin cancers are caused by chronic long-term sun damage and so the people who are getting them are usually in the 50s, 60s and 70s and the rates go up almost 10-fold with age, they rapidly rise with age,” Professor Whiteman added. </p> <p>“So what you are seeing in the people who are currently in their 70s is the result of sun exposure they had 30, 40 and 50 years ago.”</p> <p>Professor Whiteman is urging those who were exposed to the sun often when they were younger to have their skin checked regularly.</p> <p>“Because the likelihood is that they’ll have more in the next couple of years and the sooner you can treat them the less the damage the patient incurs and the less likelihood there is a spread of the cancer."</p>

Caring

Study shines new light on cause of melanomas

<p>Ground-breaking research from the Melanoma Institute Australia, has shone a new light on the cause of melanomas on the hands, feet and inside of the lip.</p> <p>The research suggests acral and mucosal melanomas, some of the deadliest forms of the disease, are not actually caused by the sun. These findings are expected to have real implications on future prevention and treatment.</p> <p>The study’s lead author Professor Richard Scolyer said, “This is by far the largest study to have looked at the whole genome in melanoma and it has proven these less common melanomas are strikingly different in terms of their causes.”</p> <p>Every year hundreds of Australians are diagnosed with acral or mucosal melanomas, which are significantly more aggressive and harder to spot than skin melanomas.</p> <p>Professor Nicholas Hayward from QIMR Berghofer added, “Acral and mucosal melanomas occur all over the world, but they have been even more challenging to treat than skin melanoma.”</p> <p>Scientists are now working to turn these discoveries into better results for melanoma patients.</p> <p>What's your take on the research?</p>

Body

How to spot a melanoma from a mole

<p>Melanomas are a cancerous growth caused by DNA damage to the skin, usually from the ultraviolet rays of the sun or a tanning bed. This DNA damage mutates skin cells and causes them to multiply rapidly, forming malignant tumours. </p> <p>If found early, melanomas are almost always curable. If not, things can get really bad: melanomas are not only the most common form of skin cancer, but they kill the most people.</p> <p>We really need to worry about skin cancer with the hole in the ozone, as New Zealand and Australia have the highest rates of melanomas in the world.</p> <p><img width="376" height="369" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/17604/moles_376x369.jpg" alt="MOLES" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"/></p> <p><strong>What do they look like?</strong></p> <p>A melanoma is not a mole, but it may look like one, and may develop from one. Here are a few key things that differentiate a regular spot from a mole:</p> <ul> <li>Regular moles generally have smooth and even borders, while an early melanoma's border will likely be uneven.</li> <li>A mole should be roughly symmetrical, while a developing melanoma will likely have an uneven shape.</li> <li>Harmless moles are generally smaller than the eraser on a pencil. Anything larger could be dangerous.</li> <li>Multiple colours on the same skin spot are an obvious warning sign, as is any change in colour over time.</li> </ul> <p>In fact, any change is a big warning sign. Harmless moles usually remain exactly the same. If your moles are changing, or becoming itchy, crusty, or bloody, you should definitely get them checked out.</p> <p>None of these rules are concrete, and anyone with many moles should have their skin tested by a doctor.</p> <p><strong>Who is most at risk?</strong></p> <p>Anyone can get melanomas, but certain people are more at risk.</p> <p>Lighter skinned races, who sunburn easily, are the most likely of developing melanomas. While they do occur in children, those aged over 45 are the most at risk. Males are more at risk of melanomas, but only slightly.</p> <p>These risk factors are associated with regular melanomas - certain rare melanomas are a risk for everyone.</p> <p><strong>Are they curable?</strong></p> <p>If spotted early, melanomas are almost always curable by surgery. If not, the cancer can quickly advance to other parts of the body, where it becomes harder to treat and possibly fatal.</p> <p><em>First appeared on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></a></em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/02/foods-that-make-skin-healthy/">Five foods that make your skin look healthier</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/health/body/2015/12/which-oils-are-best-for-your-health/">A quick guide to the healthiest oils for better skin, joints and wellbeing</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2015/10/mps-take-kit-off-for-cancer-awareness/">MPs take their kit off in the name of melanoma awareness</a></strong></em></span></p>

Body

MPs take their kit off in the name of melanoma awareness

<p>MPs lined up to take their kits off in Parliament in a bid to stem the increasing rate of melanoma in this country - one of the worst in the world.</p><p>To the benefit of all, their molemapping checks, carried out by Melanoma New Zealand, took place behind screens.</p><p>With one of the highest incidences in the world, fair skinned Kiwis have a one in 15 chance of developing melanoma in their lifetime.</p><p>Parliamentarians receiving skin checks crossed the political divide, including several Cabinet Ministers and MPs from National, Labour, Greens, NZ First and the ACT Party.</p><p>In launching New Zealand's first Skin Check Day, Health Minister Jonathan Coleman said he had a clean bill of health, but one New Zealander died every day of the preventable cancer.</p><p>"It's all about knowing the signs to look for, taking preventative action, trying to avoid sunburn and sun exposure early in life.</p><p>"But of course, for adult New Zealanders, our history is what it is. Many of us have seen way too much sun over the years and so now many of us are at risk of this totally preventable disease."</p><p>It was important New Zealanders knew what to look for, and were aware of the moles on their own body.</p><p>It was when any moles began to change shape, colour or became raised, that a molemap with a dermatologist was a good idea.</p><p>GPs could also perform baseline checks, and refer patients if they thought there was any cause for concern.</p><p>Melanoma NZ chief executive Linda Flay said it was vital New Zealand's took charge of their own skin.</p><p>"Being proactive could save you from becoming one of over 300 Kiwis who die from melanoma each year."</p><p>Wellington dermatologist Dr Bruce Taylor said skin cancer was treatable if picked up early.</p><p>New Zealand registered about 2000 invasive melanomas every year, and 2000 non-invasive.</p><p>"With skin checks, the whole idea is to identify the ones who are high-risk. Because they're the ones who need to be screened to have regular checks."</p><p>Anyone with fair skin, or who had a family member who had had melanoma was in the high-risk group.</p><p><em>Hero image credit: Twitter / Jonathan Coleman</em></p><p>Written by Stacey Kirk. First appeared on <strong><a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz" target="_blank"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz</span></a></strong> </p><p><strong>Related links:</strong></p><p><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2015/10/all-blacks-fireworks-gone-wrong/">All Blacks fireworks display gone wrong costs pyrotechnics company $100K</a></span></strong></em></p><p><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2015/10/restored-steam-engine-to-depart-from-picton/">Rail tour picks up steam after tow start</a></span></strong></em></p><p><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/news/news/2015/10/kiwis-avoid-app-store-price-hike/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Kiwis avoid Apple's App Store price hike</span></em></strong></a></p>

News

MPs take their kit off in the name of melanoma awareness

News

What I’ve learnt since being told I have 3 months to live

<p>Each and every day life throws us new challenges and teaches us things about the world and, perhaps more importantly, ourselves. All of which make the journey that is life interesting, challenging and rewarding. Sometimes, however, life tends to throw some of us rather large curveballs. Things that shake us to the very core and as a result our perspective on everything shifts. Recently we <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/health/wellbeing/2015/05/emmas-battle-with-incurable-melanoma/">published a story on 23-year-old Emma, who was diagnosed with aggressive melanoma in mid 2014, for which there is no cure.</a></strong></span><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span></p> <p>Given only three months to live when she was diagnosed, one can’t even begin to imagine what Emma has been through. When Over60 spoke to Emma about her terminal illness, she was very candid about her experience and quick to reveal that, and not surprisingly so, it has been a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs.</p> <p>Since being diagnosed with cancer Emma has married the love of her life, added to her little family with a gorgeous puppy Ralph, been accepted into a clinical trial (which has given her more time) and, as she explains, learnt a lot about herself, others and priorities.</p> <p>In the hopes of shedding some light on what it’s really like to be diagnosed with cancer and to possibly help others in similar situations, Emma was generous enough to sit down with Over60 and talk about her terrible experience and what she has learnt – both the good and the bad.</p> <p><strong>What have you learnt about life since your diagnosis?</strong></p> <p>I have learnt what and who are important to me. I have been pretty harsh in how I have handled relationships since cancer, but I don’t see the need in wasting time on people that really don’t deserve to be part of your life.</p> <p>Life is precious and you deserve to spend it with those most special to you.</p> <p><strong>Since your diagnosis I am sure you count each day as precious. What helps you to wake up each morning and make the most of things?</strong></p> <p>Although I am so lucky that I have been given more time with my family, there are definitely days that I don’t want to get out of bed and I would rather just have a day of crying. I feel that there is a lot of pressure for patients with terminal illness “to live in the moment”, but there is only so much of that you can do, there is a point where you do have to enjoy a degree of normalcy and get strength from that. As I don’t work, it was very tempting to go into my own little shell and I felt that I didn’t have much purpose anymore – so in comes Ralph. We bought a little puppy called Ralph. I am totally not a dog person, but I needed something to take care of instead of everyone taking care of me. Ralph makes sure that I wake up early every morning for a play and a walk. This little addition to our family has truly made the biggest difference to my mental health.</p> <p><strong>Knowing all too well just what a gift time is, how has your attitude towards time, people and “things” changed?</strong></p> <p>I think I could have gone two ways – I could have embraced everyone who reached out to me and reconnected with people from my past or forgiven everyone that had hurt me in the past OR I could concentrate on a small group of family and friends who’s love and support has never wavered and have not just appeared in my life because I am dying – I went with option two.</p> <p>When I was given three months and started planning my palliative care, I honestly couldn’t think of anything worse than saying goodbye to everyone that I had ever met. This may sound harsh, but I have learnt that I need to prioritise my time with the people closest to me and enjoy that time.</p> <p><strong>What advice would give to someone who (or has a family member who) has fallen ill?</strong></p> <p>My advice is to be kind to yourself. Don’t fall to the pressures of “staying positive” and “living in the moment”, if you want to crawl up in a ball one day and just cry – DO IT! </p> <p><strong>Have you found that researching your illness has helped you to understand it? What have you discovered?</strong></p> <p>I don’t research new treatments or clinical trials at all. I feel that Google is very dangerous. I put my trust in one person, and that is my oncologist. My oncologist and the rest of the team at the hospital know my case – Google doesn’t.</p> <p><strong>What has the experience of being in the trial been like?</strong></p> <p>Prior to being on a clinical trial, I received treatment on compassionate ground (the drug was not yet on the PBS, but doctors could apply for their patient to receive treatment for free while waiting). Being on a clinical trial is much better! On trial you are being monitored so close, so I felt a sense of security.</p> <p>Also, I feel really lucky being on a clinical trial. The reality is that there aren’t many treatments for advanced melanoma off trial, so I am truly blessed to have gained access to this treatment.</p> <p><strong>If you could change just one thing, what would it be?</strong></p> <p>Obviously I would love to change the fact that I don’t have terminal cancer, but unfortunately that can’t happen. Instead I need to think about all the wonderful things that have happened since cancer. I married the love of my life, I started an amazing blog, I have travelled. The last 18 months has been by all accounts pretty terrible, but there has been a lot of happiness. </p> <p><strong>If your life had a mantra, what would it be?</strong></p> <p>“You just need to keep on plodding along”</p> <p>Life is tough and you don’t always need to put a brave face on, sometimes you just need to get through the day and hope that tomorrow is better.</p> <hr /> <p><em>There are thousands of people living with cancer right now and more are diagnosed every day. To help people avoid facing what Emma is going through, research, like that which Dr Glen Boyle does, is the best hope. With funding from Cancer Council Queensland, Dr Boyle’s work has led to exciting new knowledge about melanoma but it needs ongoing funding to be taken further. </em></p> <p><em>With your help, there is hope that new treatments will become available for people diagnosed with melanoma in the future. Please make a tax-deductible gift today and help find new cancer treatments that could save lives. </em></p> <p><em>Visit <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="http://www.donate.cancerqld.org.au/?utm_source=Fairfax-oversixty-content1&utm_medium=sponsored-post1&utm_content=oversixty&utm_campaign=may-appeal-2015" target="_blank">www.donate.cancerqld.org.au</a></strong></span> now or call the Donor Hotline on 1300 663 936 to make a donation.</em></p> <p><strong>Have you, or someone you know, been diagnosed with incurable melanoma? We’d love to hear from you and share your story with the Over60 community in the hopes that we can together raise awareness about this issue. Please email the Over60 editorial team at contribute@oversixty.com.au </strong></p>

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Study shines new light on cause of melanomas

How to spot a melanoma from a mole

MPs take their kit off in the name of melanoma awareness

MPs take their kit off in the name of melanoma awareness

What I’ve learnt since being told I have 3 months to live

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