Skin Cancer Survivor Hugh Jackman, 57, Receives Gift He’ll ‘Cherish Forever’ From ‘Sweet Caroline’ Singer Neil Diamond

“One of the most awesome gifts I’ve ever received and will cherish forever. Thank you @neildiamond,” the Golden Globe Award-winner wrote alongside the footage.

The generous gesture comes shortly after the December 25 release of the new film “Song Sung Blue. The movie follows a Milwaukee couple performing in a Diamond tribute act. Jackman portrays Mike Sardina, nicknamed “Lightning,” a member of the tribute pair called “Lightning & Thunder.”

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Fans reacted warmly to the video, which captures a delighted and speechless Jackson unwrapping the gift and embracing the guitar.

One of the stars followers, commented, “Great film. Very emotional. Hugh & Kate Hudson did such a great job in it.”

Others commented, “What an awesome gift to receive too,” and “Oh that’s so special! How wonderful!”

Another fan requested him to “play it, please.”

It’s truly amazing to see Diamond, who stopping touring and doing live shows in 2018 following his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis, giving such a meaningful gift to a fellow performer.

Diamond, wrote the 1972 hit “Song Song Blue,” which the movie is named after, after being influenced by the second movement of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 21.

The film, starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson as a married duo in a Neil Diamond tribute band, tells the true story of a Wisconsin couple who performed Diamond’s hits, chronicling their romance, rise to local fame, challenges they endured about a serious accident, and their resurgence.

Offering his thoughts on the film, Jackman previously said, “Mike Sardina wanted to take the essence of Neil without impersonating him. It’s very cool, but very different from how I sing.

“This movie is a love letter to Mike, and a love letter to Neil Diamond, whose songs were Mike’s lifeline.”

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Jackman added, “He’s not just one of the greatest songwriters of all time; he really connects to audiences.

“You love the music, and he makes everyone feel like he’s singing just to them. That’s a rare quality.”

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After Jackman finished filming “Song Sung Blue” he decided to visit Diamond’s Colorado home, where they shared some quality time.

Speaking on the The Graham Norton Show about his trip to Colorado, Jackman said, “So I took the opportunity. I said, ‘Guys, I’d love to come around and have a cuppa or something.

“And Neil’s like, ‘Okay, yeah, all right.’ And then I didn’t hear from Neil anymore. And [Diamond’s wife] Katie obviously takes the phone and goes, ‘You know we’re in Colorado?’ I went, ‘Okay, I’d still like to come for a cuppa,’ and she was like, ‘So I guess you want to stay the night?’ I’m like, ‘That’d be great.’ And she’s like, ‘Okay.'”

Jackson ultimately stayed the night and sand karaoke with Diamond, he admitted.

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Hugh Jackman’s Skin Cancer Battle

The 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.

Speaking on “The Howard Stern Show” last month, Jackman explained, “I’ve had like six skin cancers. There’s three types. Melanoma, the worst. Squamous cell, not great. I’ve only had basal cell.”

Jackman says his doctor cautioned him that he may have more bouts with skin cancer as he grows older.

“It’s a cancer, it grows, and if you don’t take it out, it’ll get into your bones, then you’ll have to take the bone out, but the doctor said, ‘You’re going to get a bunch more in your life because as you get older, your immune system starts to slow down,” Jackman explained.

“All skin cancer, all of it happens 25 years before the cancer comes. And he said it could be one time where you got burned really badly. Just one,” he advised.

“Growing up in Australia, I always had a high risk. But everyone should get a check. It’s the most preventable cancer, I think, that is around.”

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.”

RELATED: ‘X-Men’ Star Hugh Jackman Says Before His Skin Cancer Diagnosis, ‘If You Didn’t Have a Tan, People Made Fun of You,’ But Now Urges Cancer Prevention

According to research published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, “There is a direct link between ultraviolet exposure and the development of BCC, as UV exposure damages DNA and induces mutations in tumor suppressor genes.” Although BCC is the most common cancer, it is the “least likely cancer to metastasize,” the researchers added.

BCC Risk Factors include:

• Fair skin
• Older than age 50
• Exposure to UV radiation

The Skin Cancer Foundation describes the notable signs of BCCs, which include:

• Appear like open sores
• Red patches
• Pink growths
• Shiny bumps
• Scars or growths that are slightly elevated
• Sometimes, BCCs may ooze, crust, itch, or bleed

According to the medical journal International Journal of Molecular Sciences, surgery is the most likely treatment for BCC, with Mohs surgery considered the “gold standard surgical approach in high-risk recurrent BCCs.”

Treating Basal Cell Carcinoma

When someone undergoes surgery for BCC, it typically involves Mohs surgery. This procedure is microscopically controlled, and thin layers of skin cancer tissue are removed layer by layer until the surgeon reaches clear tissue.

Diagnosis: Before surgery, a dermatologist or skin specialist will diagnose the basal cell carcinoma. This is typically done through a skin biopsy, where a small sample of the affected area is removed and examined under a microscope to confirm the presence of cancerous cells.

Pre-operative evaluation: Once the diagnosis is confirmed, the patient’s overall health and the specific characteristics of the BCC, such as its size, location, and depth, are evaluated to determine the most appropriate surgical approach.

“You are able to remove a very conservative margin around cancer and study it in essentially real-time,,” explains Dr. Sumaira Aasi, Professor of Dermatology and Director of Mohs and Dermatologic Surgery at Stanford. If cancer is found when the surgeon examines the tissue under the microscope, the surgeon goes back and removes some more tissue.

The idea is that by making the tiniest cuts and evaluating them microscopically, the surgeon knows for certain that all the cancer is out when the last piece of tissue proves to be clear. It is often done as an outpatient procedure with local anesthetic.

Reconstruction: Depending on the size and location of the surgical site, reconstructive surgery may be necessary to optimize cosmetic outcomes and restore the function of the treated area. This could involve sutures, skin grafts, or other techniques.

Post-operative care: After the surgery, patients are typically given instructions for wound care, which may include keeping the area clean, changing dressings, and avoiding sun exposure to prevent further damage to the skin.

Follow-up: Regular follow-up appointments are essential to monitor the surgical site for any signs of recurrence and to address any concerns or complications.

Five Ways to Protect Yourself From Skin Cancer

Skin cancer can happen to anyone and develop at any time of year. It tends to occur on parts of the body that see more sun like the face, head, neck and arms, but it can also develop anywhere, including places like the bottoms of your feet, your genitals and the inside of your mouth.

If you’re wanting to minimize your risk of developing skin cancer, check out these tips from Dr. Dendy Engelman, a board certified dermatologic surgeon at Shafer Clinic Fifth Avenue

Top 5 Ways to Protect Your Skin From Skin Cancer

• Avoid sun during peak hours: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Wear a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses to protect the tops of our heads, the tops of our ears and the delicate area around the eye.
• Wear at least SPF 30 sunscreen and make sure to reapply every two hours or after excessive sweating or swimming.
• Have yearly skin checks (with a professional) because it’s difficult to evaluate areas all over the body.
• Avoid tanning beds. There are no “good” tanning beds, and they can significantly increase your risk of skin cancer.

In addition, make sure to prioritize skin protection all year round. People often focus on things like sunscreen use solely in the summer, but our experts know skin damage can happen at any time of the year.

RELATED: Choose the Right Sunscreen and Use It Often

Which Sunscreen Should I Choose To Prevent Cancer?

“My patients ask me all the time, ‘Do I really need sunscreen every day, all year round?’ The answer is yes,” Dr. Engelman told SurvivorNet.

“People think they only need sun protection when they’re in the bright, warm sunshine. But the reality is, we can get sun damage at any time throughout the year, even in the cold, wintry months. Think about when you go skiing. That’s a very high risk. Even though it’s cold, our skin should be protected.”

Skin Cancer Checklist:

In between doctor visits, doing regular self-checks on your skin is also important to find skin cancer early. Again, particularly if you’re high-risk.

Dr. Cecilia Larocca, a dermatologist at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, recommends looking at your skin once a month for anything suspicious and using the acronym ABCDE as a checklist:

• Asymmetrical moles: if you drew a line straight down the center of the mole, would the sides match
• Borders: irregular, jagged, not smooth; can also stand for bleeding
• Colors: multiple distinct colors in the mole
• Diameter: larger than 6mm, about the size of a pencil head eraser
• Evolution: This may be the most important, anything that is changing over time such as gaining color, losing color, painful, itching, or changing shape.

Understanding Parkinson’s, a Chronic Disease Neil Diamond Is Living With

Parkinson’s, which Neil Diamond is living with, is a chronic illness that affects the nervous system. As time passes, more symptoms start to show up in the body. Although there is currently no cure for this degenerative disease, researchers like those at The Michael J. Fox Foundation are trying to change that.

RELATED: Michael J. Fox, Who’s Lived a Decades-Long Parkinson’s Journey, Focuses on Gratitude & Joy

Medications can be taken to reduce and control some symptoms of Parkinson’s. Some of these medications include dopamine promoters, antidepressants, cognition-enhancing medication, and anti-tremor medication.

For those dealing with a disease like Parkinson’s on a daily basis, actor Michael J. Fox who was diagnosed with early-onset Parkinson’s in 1991 when he was just 29 years old previously shared some advice during an interview with AARP, saying, “Have an active life and do not let yourself get isolated and marginalized. You can live with it.

“People sometimes say that a relative or a parent or a friend died of Parkinson’s. You don’t die of Parkinson’s. You die with Parkinson’s, because once you have it, you have it for life until we can remedy that, and we’re working hard at it.”

“So, to live with it, you need to exercise and be in shape and to eat well,” Fox says. “If you can’t drive, find a way to get around. Maintain friendships. Don’t say, ‘Oh, I don’t have anything to say to Bob.’ Bob might have something to say to you. Just make the call.”

Prioritizing Mental Health & Acceptance After a Diagnosis

Signs and symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease can often seem innocuous and go unnoticed as they could potentially be attributed to other things. According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), the four main symptoms of Parkinson’s are:

• A tremor in hands, arms, legs, jaw, or head
• Muscle stiffness, where muscle remains contracted for a long time
• Slowness of movement
• Impaired balance and coordination, sometimes leading to falls

Other symptoms can include:

• Depression and other emotional changes
• Difficulty swallowing, chewing, and speaking
• Urinary problems or constipation
• Skin problems

Symptoms of Parkinson’s can vary from person to person, as well as the rate of the disease’s progression.

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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