Hugh Jackman, an Australian actor, has revealed that he is undergoing additional skin cancer tests following a recent medical check-up.
With a bandage on his nose, the Wolverine actor took to social media to encourage fans to get checked and follow sun safety precautions.
The 54-year-old actor stated that he anticipates test results within the next few days.
Jackman had his first skin cancer removed in 2013, and he has had at least six more procedures since then.
In his video, Jackman stated that his doctor had discovered “little things that could be, or could not be, basal cell [carcinomas].”
Basal cell carcinoma is a non-melanoma that is caused by overexposure to the sun or sunbeds and is much less likely to spread. According to the NHS, treatment for non-melanoma skin cancers is successful in 90% of cases.
Jackman reassured fans that basal cell carcinomas are the “least dangerous” type of skin cancer, but he hoped his scare would remind people to avoid the sun.
“Please use sunscreen; it is simply not worth it, no matter how badly you want to tan. Believe me! “He stated.
Australia is the world’s skin cancer capital, with over 11,500 people diagnosed with melanoma each year and an estimated 434,000 treated for other skin cancers.
In 2015, Jackman told People magazine that his diagnoses had surprised him, despite his upbringing.
“Just hearing the word ‘cancer’ is always a bit of a shock,” he said.
“It’s nothing unusual for an Australian. I had never worn sunscreen as a child, so I was a prime candidate for it.”
Jackman, who was born in Sydney to English emigrant parents, is best known for his role as Wolverine in Marvel’s X-Men franchise.
