Australia leads the world in skin cancer rates but a new star-studded documentary is hoping to shake that title.
Conquering Skin Cancer features the likes of Hollywood star Hugh Jackman and Olympian Cate Campbell, as well as survivors, each with powerful messages of prevention.
Australia’s love affair with the sun has caused heartache and trauma for millions.
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“Australia is the world champion of skin cancer. This is not a title that we want,” Cate Campbell says in a clip from the film.
A world leader in skin cancer rates, the disease claims a life every four minutes in Australia and we hold 10 per cent of the world’s melanoma population.
Filmmaker Mike Hill has captured stories from around the country, speaking to survivors, experts and advocates, hoping to change our relationship with the sun.
“Two in every three Australians will get skin cancers in their lifetime and that is such an alarming statistic,” Hill told 9News.
The documentary director’s call to arms also called on some big names.
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Media personality Deborah Hutton and Hollywood heavyweight Hugh Jackman both speak about their own skin cancer ordeals.
“I remember feeling pretty scared,” Jackman says in the film.
A skin cancer diagnosis came as a big shock for Cancer Council WA’s Ashley Reid. He opens up in the film about having a melanoma cut from his calf three years ago.
“This is from someone who talks about it all day long, but then it’s you. It’s you, a friend a family, a colleague, it’s every family affected,” Reid says in the documentary.
Sun-loving Surfing WA chief executive Mark Lane, who also features in the film, has ridden the wave of remission four times over.
“I’m six years into this journey, I’ve still got a bit to go,” he tells 9News.
“Getting a half-hour skin check-up is far easier than what I’ve had to deal with the last six years.”
Conquering Skin Cancer will debut in cinemas from November 20.
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