The real tragedy on Married At First Sight that Australia should be talking about....
8 March 2017
Australia, we need to talk. This week’s dramatic episodes of Married At First Sight have highlighted a tragedy which is ripping Australian families apart. Yet no one is talking about it.
Whilst public discussion focuses on Cheryl and Andrew’s tumultuous relationship, we should be talking about something far more sinister. At their ‘relationship boot camp’ Cheryl was clearly shown sporting badly sunburnt shoulders and back. Her skin was bright red, it looked painful, and I’m sure viewers noticed. Yet no-one batted an eyelid.
Well, I am calling it. The national discussion about young Australians and melanoma needs to start, and it needs to start now. Our young adults are dying from melanoma. Sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, young parents – lost to melanoma, Australia’s national cancer, at the prime of their lives.
Melanoma is the most common cancer affecting 15-39 year-old Australians. It kills more 20-39 year olds than any other single cancer. One Australian dies from melanoma every six hours. Yet, it is largely preventable.
Intense, intermittent UV exposure leading to sunburn radically increases your chance of developing potentially deadly melanoma. So why are we sitting back and admiring a young woman with a bad case of sunburn on an Australian reality television show, and not discussing it?
Time to get with the program. The famous line, “I love a sunburnt country”, was written way back in 1908. Sun tanning products became sunscreen products back in the 80s, for a reason. Television shows moved on from showing contestants driving without seatbelts, or smoking, to send the right public health and safety messages. It is time to place the same importance on sending life-saving sun safety messages to impressionable young Australians. We banned sunbeds (another driver for melanoma), time to ban sunburn.
Cheryl’s sunburn was front and centre during Melanoma March, our annual awareness month, when I meet a truly heart-wrenching number of partners and parents who have lost their loved ones to melanoma at 24, 32 or 38. Come on Australia, who is ready to join the conversation and help us end melanoma?
Carole Renouf
CEO, Melanoma Institute Australia
For more information, please contact: Jennifer Durante |Melanoma Institute Australia | 0412 798 990 | jennifer.durante@melanoma.org.au
Australasian Melanoma Conference AMC2021
The 2021 Australasian Melanoma Conference (AMC2021) will held in Sydney, Australia.
Community Fundraising Wrap Up Apr-June 2021
A re-cap of the wonderful, and often very creative, community fundraising initiatives over the April to June quarter.
Patients paying it forward
Our patients who donate their tissue samples and records to our research are helping to make a difference to the lives of future melanoma patients.
Research boost to improve outcomes for melanoma patients
MIA researchers have recently been awarded two competitive funding grants, which will help facilitate their ground-breaking work in melanoma research.
Riverina Melanoma Ride
Melanoma survivor Matt Kean is doing a 1000km bike ride around the Riverina this October, to increase awareness of melanoma and raise funds for Amie St Clair Melanoma - MIA. There are many ways you can be part of this life-changing ride!
Amie St Clair 10th Annual Ball
Celebrate the 10th anniversary of Amie St Clair Melanoma at the Annual Ball in Wagga Wagga!
Melanoma Clinical Trial to open in Wagga
Riverina patients gain access to potentially life saving immunotherapy treatment close to home.
Queen's Birthday Honour for Professor Richard Scolyer
MIA's Prof Scolyer has been appointed as an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia.
Sharing our research on the global stage at 2021 ASCO Annual Meeting
Research from MIA was once again in the spotlight as findings were shared at the virtual ASCO21.
Australian researchers lead world in successful trial of new cancer treatment.
In a breakthrough which could extend to the treatment of other cancers, a new immune checkpoint inhibitor has proven effective in helping save the lives of advanced melanoma patients.
Thank you doesn't seem enough for our melanoma nurses.
Whilst our research and clinical teams are trialling new treatments to save lives, it is our nurses who are on the front line providing care and support.
Sharing our knowledge of melanoma on the global stage
As leaders in the field of melanoma, clinicians and researchers from MIA shared their knowledge at the virtual 10th World Congress of Melanoma.
Community Fundraising Wrap Up Jan-Mar 2021
The easing of COVID restrictions has meant the return of community events, and we recognise the generous support of our community fundraisers.
Melanoma patients and their families urged to speak up and put national spotlight on melanoma.
Melanoma patients and their carers are being urged to participate in a ground-breaking survey which will shape the future of melanoma treatment, research, support and funding in Australia.
Support for Melanoma March has come from everywhere
We have been buoyed by the wonderful support for our Melanoma March campaign, and our mission to cover Australia in footprints continues into April!
An inspiring WA Melanoma Community Forum
There was a wonderful feeling of community support amongst the melanoma patients, families and friends at the WA Melanoma Community Form.
Family of 8-year-old with melanoma calls on all Australians to step up to help save lives
The Price family has decided to share their story to inspire Australians to support research into new melanoma treatments.
Rethinking skin surveillance for high-risk melanoma patients
New research has provided evidence in favour of a structured skin surveillance program for high-risk melanoma patients.
Australia's oldest melanoma survivor steps up to save lives on his 105th birthday
Melanoma research saved Bert's life at 101 and now he wants to give back.
Predicting disease spread in thin melanoma
A new MIA online risk calculator for clinicians can determine the likelihood of thin melanoma spreading.