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Former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke’s skin cancer diagnosis has brought attention to a serious health crisis.
Michael Clarke urged others to have regular medical check-ups. (Photo Credits: Instagram)
Former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke has revealed that he has been diagnosed with skin cancer. He shared an update on Instagram about his health and also urged others to have regular medical check-ups.
In a post on Instagram, Clarke wrote: “Skin cancer is real! Especially in Australia. Another one cut out of my nose today. A friendly reminder to get your skin checked. Prevention is better than cure but in my case, regular check-ups and early detection is key. So grateful that @drbishsoliman_ got it early.”
The revelation has brought attention to a serious health issue that affects a significant portion of the Australian population. The country has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world. According to Cancer Council, about 2 out of 3 Australians are expected to develop some form of skin cancer during their lifetime and non-melanoma skin cancers alone account for over one million treatments each year.
Types Of Skin Cancer
Skin cancer can develop in different forms:
Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC): It is the most common type of skin cancer and is also called non-melanoma or keratinocyte cancer. While it can develop in younger people, it is more common after age 40.
Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC): About one-third of cases are SCC usually affecting people over 50.
Melanoma: Though less common (about 1 in 100 cases), melanoma is more aggressive and can spread to other parts of the body if untreated.
How Skin Cancer Develops
Skin cancer is primarily caused by excessive ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun. UV rays damage the DNA in skin cells and if the body cannot repair this damage, abnormal cell growth occurs which then leads to cancer. People with fair skin are particularly vulnerable and risk increases with prolonged or intense sun exposure.
Skin Type And Human Evolution
Australia’s population includes many people with fair skin which is a result of ancestors migrating from low-sun regions. Fair skin offers less natural protection from UV rays which increases vulnerability to skin damage.
On the other hand, indigenous Australians and other populations with darker, pigmented skin have lower melanoma rates. Early humans in Africa had dark skin to protect against strong sunlight. As some migrated to Europe, their skin became lighter to help produce vitamin D while those in sunny regions kept darker skin.
Geography And UV Exposure
Location and sunlight intensity play a major role in skin cancer risk. Northern states in Australia like Queensland, closer to the equator, report higher rates than New South Wales and Victoria.
The Earth’s elliptical orbit and lower pollution levels in the southern hemisphere also contribute to higher UV exposure. Overall, southern hemisphere locations receive roughly 15 per cent more UV radiation than equivalent northern latitudes each year, as per Cancer Council.
The Ozone Layer
Some people think that the ozone hole is a major reason for high skin cancer rates in Australia. The ozone layer does block UV rays from reaching the Earth. In the past, chemicals like CFCs damaged the ozone which let more UV through. This caused concern and led to the Montreal Protocol to reduce these chemicals.
Each spring, small pockets of ozone-depleted air drift over southern Australia but the effect is small and short-lived. In reality, the ozone hole has not significantly changed skin cancer rates in Australia.
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