As Australia heads towards another summer, skin cancer survivor and television personality Deborah Hutton OAM is urging Australians to take sun protection and skin checks seriously.
Speaking on The Morning Show for the Australian Melanoma Research Foundation, Deborah shared her personal experience with skin cancer and warned Australians not to dismiss suspicious spots or assume that skin cancer is always something that can simply be removed and forgotten.
“We can’t self-diagnose. So it’s really important to make sure that you see someone, see a professional” -Deborah Hutton OAM
“We can’t self-diagnose”
Deborah has experienced significant skin cancers herself and has used her experience to raise awareness about the importance of prevention and early detection.
Her message is simple: don’t ignore changes to your skin and don’t try to diagnose them yourself.
As Deborah explained, some people assume that skin cancer can simply be cut out, frozen or treated with creams. But different types of skin cancer can behave very differently, and melanoma can be particularly serious if it is not detected and treated early.
“Melanoma is the most aggressive skin cancer,” Deborah told The Morning Show, urging people to seek professional advice if they notice something concerning.
Prevention starts with sun protection
As we move into spring and summer, increased time outdoors means increased opportunities for exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
Protecting your skin should be part of your everyday routine when UV levels are high. That means:
- Slip on protective clothing
- Slop on SPF 50 or SPF 50+ sunscreen
- Slap on a broad-brimmed hat
- Seek shade
- Slide on sunglasses
- Check the UV Index before heading outdoors
Know your skin
Sun protection is only part of the picture. Knowing your skin and being alert to changes can help identify potential skin cancers early.
If you notice a new or changing spot, a lesion that looks different from others, or anything that concerns you, speak to a qualified healthcare professional. As Deborah emphasises, you cannot reliably diagnose skin cancer yourself.
Her own experience is a powerful reminder that early detection matters and that protecting your skin today can help reduce your future risk.
As we launch AMRF’s Sun Safe Spring campaign, we’re encouraging Australians to make sun protection a habit this spring and summer.
