Hugh Jackman Talks about his Skin Cancer

Hugh Jackman Talks about his Skin Cancer

Hugh Jackman has spoken about his skin cancer at length with People Magazine and we bring you exclusive excerpts from it. The first time Hugh Jackman noticed a mark on his nose he dismissed it as something that happened at the shoot (probably).

“I was filming X Men: Days of Future Past, he recalls. And my makeup artist said ‘You’ve got a little spot of blood, here on your nose’ and I said ‘Yeah, I know it was from a fight sequence and I knocked it somehow.’ And trust me for 17 years I’ve played Wolverine and I’ve had more scraps and cuts … I’m very clumsy with those claws.”

What happened later was a little disturbing. The mark kept appearing every other day and his make-up artist and wife asked him to get a checkup done. That’s when he was told that he has Basal Cell Carcinoma, one of three types of skin cancer.

 “It’s always a bit of a shock just hearing the word ‘cancer,’”, says Hugh Jackman.

The kind of cancer Jackman has needs to be taken out every time otherwise it will grow and spread. Over the past 18 months he has taken off four cancer tissues from his nose and one from his shoulder.

His doctor Michael Albom says, “I always say, ‘If you get a growth, a lump or a bump or something that looks a little odd to you, get it checked. See a dermatologist. Get a biopsy when warranted.” 

Hugh Jackman gets a checkup every 3 months now and has changed his lifestyle accordingly.

The fact that he spoke up about his cancer like this will work as a huge inspiration for hundreds others who are fighting or have survived cancer. His story can motivate several patients and their families who are probably feeling hopeless under the shadow of this disease.

He is also working towards spreading awareness about cancer and helping others.

Bravo!