It’s the people in your life that matter most in this world. Your family and friends who would give anything to keep you around.
Sadly, skin cancer kills twice as many men as women each year.
The good news is, if you cover something it lasts longer. The rule applies to ‘things’ like your car, your deck and your barbecue. It also applies to your skin. At any age.
UV can’t be seen or felt, so be sure to check the UV Index daily. If the UV is 3 and above, be SunSmart by protecting your skin.
Slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat, seek shade and slide on UV protective sunglasses.
Why Darren urges South Aussie men to cover up and hit skin cancer for six.
Darren thought the sore on his forehead that wouldn’t heal was just caused by the Velcro in his old cricket helmet rubbing on his skin. It wasn’t until the following cricket season, when the sore still hadn’t healed, that Darren started to worry.
In 2018, Darren went to the GP to get it checked out and learned that the sore was in fact a basal cell carcinoma and needed to be cut out. The cancer was outside preferred margins, so he was told to keep an eye out for any changes in colour, size, shape or texture—even after it had been removed.
In March 2021, Darren noticed the scar had changed and returned for a check-up. His cancer was back and he needed it cut out again. Unfortunately, the surgeon had to make a wider incision in Darren’s forehead than expected.
“Instead, they had to carve a big reverse C in my head to have enough skin to stretch down to accommodate what they’d taken out. As a result, my forehead is quite stretched, the recovery was slow. A quarter of my head remains numb, and my right eye feels like it’s open whenever it’s actually closed,” Darren said. Thankfully, Darren’s skin cancer hasn’t returned since and now he is passionate about ensuring his friends and family cover up and use sun protection.
In the past I was a bit blasé about sun protection, which didn’t help. All you guys out there, playing sport or spending time outside, learn from my experience. Sunscreen alone isn’t going to cut it” – Darren
How much sunscreen do you need to be SunSmart? We'll show you.
Did you know...
How to be SunSmart and reduce your skin cancer risk
Download the SunSmart Global UV app
You can’t see or feel UV, so can’t rely on your senses to determine if protection is required.
Check daily UV levels on the go, with the free SunSmart Global UV app.
Protect your skin in five ways
You can reduce your risk by employing five sun protective measures when the UV is 3 and above.
Read tips on how to keep safe in the sun this UV season.
Self-check your skin
Do you know how to spot the difference between a regular mole and a skin cancer? Learn how to find skin cancer early by self-checking your entire body regularly – including skin not exposed to the sun.
Cancer Council SA in collaboration with Preventive Health SA,
are rolling out the Same Goes For You campaign throughout metropolitan and regional SA.
The campaign encourages South Australians to protect their skin and reduce their risk of skin cancer.