Jackman Shares Moving Story from Being on Tour
- Skin cancer survivor and Tony-nominee Hugh Jackman shares on social media a beautiful story about conviction and following your dreams.
- Jackman first developed skin cancer in 2013 and has battled the disease six times.
- Minimize your skin cancer risk by wearing daily sunscreen and avoiding the sun during peak hours.
Jackman, a native of Sydney, Australia, is married to his wife Deborra-Lee Furness. They tied the knot in 1996 and have two children, Oscar and Ava. Jackman has praised wife Deborra for being a source of support in his life as he pursues his professional dreams, which have included starring roles in massive films like the X-Men series. Most recently, Jackman is starring in The Music Man on Broadway; he was nominated for a Tony for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his work in the role of Professor Harold Hill. He previously won a Tony in 2004 for The Boy from Oz.
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He continues, “A person in their lives had strong negative feelings toward her son's dream to pursue performing. The next day she told her son they were going to work together so he could follow his passion. Her son had been watching @greatestshowman on repeat – learning every lyric and dance step. Fast forward, a few years later, this young man @dearmichaelcash has made his Broadway debut in @musicmanbway. For anyone with a similar story, I am are here to tell you … you can. GO FOR IT.”
Hugh Jackman's Skin Cancer Battle
The Tony nominee and star of The Music Man is a seasoned skin cancer fighter and survivor. He was first diagnosed with skin cancer in 2013, and he's battled the disease six times. As a result, Jackman is extra conscientious about protecting his skin. He is outspoken about cancer prevention, encouraging others to wear sunscreen daily and check their skin. The actor was previously diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, or "BCC." This is the most commonly diagnosed skin cancer in the U.S.
According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), 5.4 million basal and squamous cell skin cancers are diagnosed each year in the U.S. Jackman's most recent battle with basal cell carcinoma was in 2017.
Protect your skin by wearing sunscreen daily, avoiding tanning beds, and staying out of the sunlight during peak hours. When it comes to sunscreen, Dr. Snehal Amin, a dermatologist in Manhattan, says in a previous interview, "My recommendation is really focused on the ingredients rather than the brands.”
He continues, “If you like how the brand feels on your skin, if you like the purpose of the brand for instance sport vs. daily use or daytime use vs. short burst of activity use I think those are more important factors than actual brands.”
Which Sunscreen Should I Choose To Prevent Cancer?
Keeping a Positive Outlook Through Cancer
We love how Jackman is such a force of light and positivity. Keeping a positive, grateful attitude through cancer has been shown to help the journey, too, according to anecdotal evidence from experts.
Cedars-Sinai colorectal surgeon, Dr. Zuri Murrell tells, SurvivorNet in an earlier interview, "My patients who thrive, even with stage 4 cancer, from the time that they, about a month after they're diagnosed, I kind of am pretty good at seeing who is going to be OK. Now doesn't that mean I'm good at saying that the cancer won't grow," he says.
"But I'm pretty good at telling what kind of patient are going to still have this attitude and probably going to live the longest, even with bad, bad disease. And those are patients who, they have gratitude in life."
'Stay Positive, It Matters,' Says Leading Cancer Surgeon
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