Hugh Jackman’s cancer and the dangers explained

February 15, 2017

Hugh Jackman announced his 6th operation in an Instagram post on Monday
The 48-year-old actor has had 6 surgeries to remove skin cancer since 2013
He suffers recurring cases of basal cell carcinoma, a kind that rarely spreads
His post sparked a spike in searches for BCC this week, according to Google
Here, we explain why his cancer keeps coming back and what BCC is

Mia De Graaf For Dailymail.com

Published:
18:46 EST, 14 February 2017

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Updated:
14:04 EST, 15 February 2017

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Hugh Jackman has had a sixth operation to remove traces of skin cancer from his face.

The 48-year-old actor has been vocal about his battle with basal cell carcinoma since doctors spotted his first abnormal mole in 2013.

On Monday, he posted another selfie showing a band-aid on his nose, urging fans to wear sunscreen and get regular check-ups.

And it seems people were listening.

The post prompted an immediate spike in searches for ‘basal cell carcinoma’, according to Google Trends.

So what is BCC, and why does Jackman’s case keep returning?

‘Thanks to frequent body checks and amazing doctors’: Hugh Jackman posted this photo and message on Instagram on Monday, urging fans to be wary of the signs for basal cell carcinoma

BCC is the most commonly-treated type of skin cancer aside from melanoma.

It usually comes in the form of open sores, red patches, pink growths, shiny bumps, or scars.

The disease affects the bottom of the epidermis, the outermost layers of cells in the skin.

Signs and symptoms of BCCs, include a growth that:

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looks smooth and pearly
appears waxy
appears as a firm, red lump
sometimes bleed
develops a crust or scab
begins to heal but never completely heal
is itchy
looks like a flat, red spot that is scaly and crusty
develops into a painless ulcer

BCC almost never spreads beyond the original tumor site.

Around 75 percent of all skin cancers are BCCs, which are typically slow-growing.

Only in very rare cases can it spread to other parts of the body and become life-threatening.

However, if left untreated it could be incredibly dangerous.

Some BCCs are more aggressive, and if left to grow, they may spread into the deeper layers of the skin and into the bones, which can make treatment more difficult.

Jackman’s post prompted a spike in searches for ‘basal cell carcinoma’, according to Google

If treated at an early stage, this form of skin cancer is usually completely cured.

However, it is not uncommon for patients to see a recurrence of BCC after their first diagnosis.

Generally, it is believe people who have already had BCC are 40 percent more likely to develop another lesion than those who haven’t.

Among those who have had BCC, there are some factors that make them more or less likely to see a recurrence.

Those with the highest risk of recurrence are:

redheads
younger patients (like Jackman)
patients with lesions on their nose, ear, or eyelid (like Jackman)

Risk also increases or decreases depending on the procedure used to remove the previous lesion(s).

Those who have Mohs Surgery, the most effective removal procedure, increases the risk of recurrence by just 1 percent. This procedure uses microscopic technology to analyze all the cells during the surgery, eliminating the ‘guessing’ factor, and removing all dangerous cells.

Jackman underwent Mohs surgery.

Those who have a standard surgical excision, without microscopic technology, raise their risk of recurrence by 10.1 percent, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

The other two common methods – cryotherapy (freezing it off) and electrodesiccation cutterage (scraping and buzzing it off) – increase the risk of recurrence by 7.5 percent and 7.7 percent respectively.

The actor discovered his first cancereous lesion after a makeup artist noticed a little spot of blood on his nose while he was filming X Men: Days of Future Past and his wife Deborra-Lee Furness urged him to get it checked. Pictured: In May 2014 (left) and October 2014 (right)

To avoid BCC, you should:

Stay out of the sun as much as possible, especially between 10am and 4pm
Do not burn and resist tanning
Never use UV tanning beds.
Cover up with clothing, hats and sunglasses
Use a sunscreen that covers UVA and UVB rays, with an SPF of at least 15 every day (even in winter)
If you are spending a day in the sun, on the beach, or in the say, get a water-resistant sunscreen that covers UVA and UVB, with an SPF of 30 or higher
Apply 2 tablespoons of sunscreen to your entire body 30 minutes before going outside
Reapply sunscreen every two hours or after swimming or excessive sweating
Keep newborns out of the sun. Babies over six months can use sunscreen
Check every mark on your body once a month, and get an annual check-up with a doctor or dermatologist