Hugh Jackman is an iconic actor, singer, performer, and overwhelmingly beloved actor within the entertainment industry; as charming as he is hilarious and handsome as he is talented — Jackman has a loyal fanbase who support his every role. From movies that captivate us to Broadway shows that bring out all of the emotions, Jackman is an extremely likable guy, and fans pay attention to his personal life as much as they do his professional one.
So in 2013, fans paid attention when he first posted about a cancer scare, and Jackman has been vulnerable and open about his diagnosis and subsequent recurrences with a type of skin cancer. The actor isn’t just talking about his own personal journey; he’s encouraging his followers to treat their skin well when it comes to protection from the sun and to understand the importance of always wearing sunscreen with a strong SPF.
While skin cancer is a broad term for several subtypes of cancer, Jackman’s advice can help protect you from several types of the disease, and he’s made it a part of his personal mission to ensure that he uses his platform to advocate for those who might shrug off the need to put on sunscreen before going outside. Hey, he is Wolverine, after all, and don’t we all hope to follow in the footsteps of our favorite heroes?
The word hero certainly sums up Jackman for many reasons, and his latest video shared with fans is another nod to his selflessness and the awareness he hopes to raise for skin cancer. If you’re wondering when Jackman was first diagnosed with cancer, what type it was, and why he is opening up about the journey once again — as always, we’ve got you covered.
When did Hugh Jackman have cancer?
Hugh Jackman first shared his journey with cancer in 2013, when, at the urging of his wife, he had a spot on his nose checked. Jackman was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma and shared the importance of getting checked and wearing sunscreen with his followers.
In addition to his wife’s advice, Today shares that Jackman first realized something was wrong when a spot on his face wouldn’t stop bleeding.
“I was shooting the movie [X-Men: Days of Future Past], and I had a bit of blood one morning, and I thought I’d scratched myself in a fight.”
It soon became evident that something else was happening, and even those on set thought it was time for Jackman to get his spot checked out by a doctor. The actor is lucky so many of his peers and loved ones urged him to get the area checked out, and he was soon diagnosed and treated for cancer.
Jackman has had recurrences of basal cell carcinoma since he was first diagnosed, and while it’s known for being one of the mildest forms of skin cancer, it’s still something to take very seriously. Cancer is a life-changing diagnosis, be it a “mild” form or not, and Jackman doesn’t share a post about his own health without reminding others how to take care of their skin.
What is basal cell carcinoma?
Basal cell carcinoma is a type of skin cancer, as we shared above, and it is one of the mildest forms of the disease. That being said, it’s still possible for basal cell carcinoma to pose a serious problem, so early intervention is critical upon receiving a diagnosis.
The Skin Cancer Foundation shares the following information about basal cell carcinoma, including that it’s the most common type of skin cancer.
In the U.S. alone, an estimated 3.6 million cases are diagnosed each year. BCCs arise from abnormal, uncontrolled growth of basal cells.
The foundation also shares that because the cancer is slow-growing, it’s usually easy to treat and leaves little to no lasting damage as far as treatment is concerned. While it’s unusual for basal cell carcinoma to grow and spread, it is possible, and in those cases, it can become a deadly form of cancer.
“BCCs rarely spread beyond the original tumor site. But these lesions can grow and become disfiguring and dangerous. Untreated BCCs can become locally invasive, grow wide and deep into the skin, and destroy skin, tissue, and bone. The longer you wait to get treatment, the more likely it is that the BCC will recur, sometimes repeatedly. There are some highly unusual, aggressive cases when BCC spreads to other parts of the body. In even rarer instances, this type of BCC can become life-threatening.”
Jackman has shared that he feels lucky to have been diagnosed early with each time he’s dealt with basal cell carcinoma; never spreading past the initial tumor site, he’s been able to fight each battle with strength and determination.
What is Hugh Jackman’s latest Instagram video?
Jackman shared a video to Instagram just two days ago that highlights his continuing journey with skin safety, including having his doctor check two new spots she’d found on his nose. The spots were removed, and the doctor told Jackman that she couldn’t be sure if they were basal cell carcinoma coming back again or not, but they took the safe route and removed them anyway.
The caption on the video promises that Jackman isn’t going to be quiet about his journey with cancer because he hopes he can encourage others to remember sunscreen.
“I know you’ve heard me talk about my basal cell carcinomas before. I’m going to keep talking about them if need be. And if it reminds even one person to put on sunscreen with a high SPF, then I’m happy.”
Earlier today, Jackman posted to his Instagram stories that the biopsies taken a couple of days ago were negative, confirming that his skin cancer had not come back or popped up in new spots. It’s a relief for Jackman, but he notes the importance of not forgetting that the skin damage that likely caused all of this happened years and years ago, and he’s careful now each time he goes into the sun.
“If I could just take this opportunity to remind you summer is coming for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. Please wear sunscreen. It is just not worth it. No matter how much you want to tan. Trust me. Trust me. Trust me. This is all stuff that happened 25 years ago is coming out now. Put some sunscreen on, you’ll still have an incredible time.”
So when you think of Jackman, you might think of his most iconic roles, but he’s also hoping that you remember to practice sun safety and to lather up with a high SPF sunscreen — it could make all the difference.