Hindsight Is A Wonderful Thing.

My husband has asked I post this story of a very personal nature in the hope, especially younger, readers will take note of the importance of covering up under our intense Australian sun. 

Anthony grew up on a dairy farm and spent his childhood working and running around outside among all of the elements country Victoria exhibits.

Before the 1980's sun protection campaigns just weren't prominent in Australia and not much heed was taken when it came to protecting our largest organ from aggravating climate factors.

Anthony's fair, sensitive skin  consequently suffered immense damage, which didn't become prevelant until well in his late twenties.

Pre-cancerous and cancerous overgrowths of scaly skin spots began to surface, mostly on his face, and needed regular, six monthly attention during follow-ups with a general practitioner.

Over the years, these scaly spots continued to increase and we approached a specialised skin cancer clinic, which has treated Anthony continually for nearly a decade.

During his most recent appointment, a cream was prescribed, which is one of several medications used by skin cancer patients. This cream is topical chemotherapy, applied to pre-cancerous and cancerous growths to bring damaged cells to the surface and remove them, while preventing the further development of abnormal cells.

The ointment is administered morning and night for three weeks and is a vigorous, painful process, burning the skin more each day, hence the color of Anthony's face. Thankfully his treatment is nearly completed and in just a few weeks his skin  will have recovered and the problematic, scaly spots will have disappeared.

Damage to our skin cells and the possibility of skin cancer happens over a lifetime. It is cumulative. Sunburns don't need to be blistering or peeling to cause damage. Any kind of burn is harmful. 

Anthony implores you to take this information onboard and to each day protect your exposed, sun-kissable skin areas as best you can by applying quality sunscreen, wearing a hat and covering up.

UV radiation isn't just dangerous, it's also sneaky and will reach you even if you think you're avoiding it. Always be mindful and prepared before venturing outside. 

Australia has one of the highest risks of skin cancer in the world. Anyone can be at risk of developing this condition, although the risk increases as we get older. The majority of skin cancers are caused by UV radiation in sunlight. 

For years Anthony's morning routine has included diligently administering sunscreen and wearing long sleeves and pants. His wide-brimmed hat lives at the door ready for him to grab as he leaves home. If only he'd known to do this during his earlier years.

Please people, take note.