‘Every Single Nurse, Teacher, Sanitation Worker…We Thank you’: Skin Cancer Survivor Hugh Jackman Shows Appreciation For Essential Workers During COVID-19

In a new post to Instagram, the Aussie actor shared a photo from the Apollo Theater in New York City’s Harlem, giving a shoutout to all essential workers. Jackman writes: “Saw this sign and thought … YES! As we see all of our neighborhoods reopen, we need to remember to thank all those essential workers who've helped us get here. Every single nurse, teacher, sanitation worker, bus driver, teacher, postal worker – all someone's wife, husband, parent, daughter, son, friend…”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Hugh Jackman (@thehughjackman)

Jackman continues, saying, “We thank you. #thankessentialworkers #worldwide @apollotheater PLEASE LEAVE YOUR THANKS BELOW FOR AN ESSENTIAL WORKER YOU KNOW!”

Hugh’s Skin Cancer Battle

Jackman is a skin cancer survivor who has fought this disease many times. He has been diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma, or "BCC." The disease first presented in 2013 for the actor, and he has battled it six times.

Related: "Start Checking Your Skin for Spots" Says Former Bachelorette Ali Fedotowsky, 36; Urges Others to Check for Skin Cancer After Her Own Battle

Basal cell carcinoma 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.

Related: 5 Celebrities Who Have Battled & Survived Skin Cancer; Protect the Skin You're In

Wearing sunscreen can minimize your skin cancer risk. When it comes to selecting sunscreen, dermatologic surgeon Dr. Snehal Amin weighed in during an earlier interview. "There are a lot of brands of sunscreens and it makes it hard to choose which product to use," he says. "My recommendation is really focus on the ingredients rather than the brands."

"If you like the way the brand feels on your skin, if you like the purpose of the brand for instance, sport versus daily use or daytime use versus a short burst of activity use I think those are more important factors than actual brands," advises Dr. Amin.  "When I'm using sunscreens on my younger kids, I recommend Neutrogena Free and Clear Stick, which is a zinc and titanium-based sunscreen."

Protecting Yourself from Skin Cancer

It’s important to protect your skin with regular checks and sunscreen. There are other steps you can take, too, to lower your skin cancer risk factor. Dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman outlines in an earlier interview five easy ways to protect your skin.

Related: Actor Tom Arnold Describes 'Popping' and Draining His Own Wounds after Skin Cancer Surgery; A Leading Expert Says 'NO'

Dr. Engelman says:

1. Avoid sun during peak hours. This means from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It doesn't mean you should never go outside during the middle of the day, but make sure you're protected when you do venture outdoors.
2. Cover your skin and eyes. A wide brim hat and sun glasses will protect your face, the top of your head, your ears, and the delicate skin around your eyes.
3. Wear an SPF of 30 or higher. Plenty of facial moisturizers have SPF built into them. Reapply often.
4. Get an annual skin check. You can check your own skin for anything that looks out of the ordinary, but you should still get a yearly check to make sure you didn't miss anything. If you do happen to notice anything out of the ordinary in between checks, schedule an appointment to talk to your doctor about it ASAP it is always worth it to make sure.
5. Avoid tanning beds. "There's absolutely no benefit to going to a tanning bed," Dr. Engelman says.

Top 5 Ways to Protect Your Skin From Skin Cancer

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.