It started as a persistent “little red dot” on an Aussie mum’s face but soon turned into a large scab (and a teachable moment) as doctors tried to stop the spread of cancer after realising the danger hiding in the “barely noticeable” mark on her forehead.
Despite the woman previously being told it was just a pimple she had “squeezed too hard”, it was later confirmed to be much more serious.
Rachel Olivia is now warning Aussies to get their skin checked after she was living her “best life” for over a year, oblivious to the fact the mark on her face was more menacing than first expected. Something told her to get it re-checked and a biopsy confirmed her fear.
“It was a little skin cancer… a basal cell carcinoma,” she explained in a TikTok video warning others.
She was given a topical cream to get her immune system “to attack the cancer” and while she commended its effectiveness, she was left with a large “angry” scab on her forehead.
“I’m rocking this bad boy for the next two weeks,” she said, explaining the treatment will hopefully eliminate the malignant cells.
“This is your sign to wear sunscreen and a hat,” the woman said in video to social media.
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Aussies urged to follow simple steps to avoid ‘preventable’ cancer
As we hit summer, Aussies are being urged to get their skin checked and practise safe sun behaviours, with Rachel warning people her experience should be “your sign to wear sunscreen and a hat”.
In 2024, the Cancer Council estimates almost 19,000 people will be diagnosed with melanoma due to Australia’s high UV radiation.
“Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world, with two in three Australians diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetime,” Anne Cust, Chair of Cancer Council’s National Skin Cancer Committee, told Yahoo News. “Fortunately, skin cancer is almost entirely preventable.”
The five instructions of ‘slip, slop, slap, seek and slide’ have never been more important, with these simple steps having huge health benefits for Aussies.
“Cancer Council encourages all Australians to use all five forms of sun protection whenever the UV levels are three or above,” Cust said, pointing to the SunSmart app and Bureau of Meteorology website if Aussies want to check the UV level in real-time.
