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
MIA joins Sydney Health Partners
Sydney Health Partners' goal is to ensure world class research is successfully implemented & scaled-up to benefit patients & wider society.
Olympians join forces for melanoma warning
Jana Pittman and Melinda Gainsford-Taylor urge Australians to be sun-safe and check their skin as they join the Game On Mole campaign in support of their much-loved coach
MIA research wins Cancer Institute of NSW 'Wildfire Highly Cited Publication'
Cited an incredible 427 times around the world, showing its vital role in improving outcomes for people with advanced melanoma.
Prof Richard Scolyer receives University of Tasmania Distinguished Alumni Award
Honouring the exceptional impact of his work on communities around the world.
MIA's Co-Medical Directors receive University of Sydney's Vice-Chancellor's Award for Outstanding Research
Awarded for their life-saving discoveries transforming melanoma patient care.
Aussies urged to mark start of summer by checking their skin
National day of action called amidst fears COVID lockdowns have deterred patients from seeking potentially life-saving medical treatment
Prof Georgina Long AO awarded the 2021 Ramaciotti Medal for Excellence in Biomedical Research
Recognising her pioneering work in immunotherapy in melanoma, transforming the care of patients worldwide.
AMC2021 conference wrap-up
Clinicians and researchers from across Australia and beyond united online, bringing the AMC2021 conference theme of Promising Futures to life.
Journalist and news reader Peter Overton our new National Ambassador
Melanoma Institute Australia is proud to announce that the Nine Network’s Peter Overton AM has joined us as a National Ambassador.
MIA researchers feature on prestigious Highly Cited Researchers 2021 List
MIA is proud to announce that five of our researchers have been named on the Clarivate Annual Highly Cited Researchers™ 2021 list.
New research into importance of skin surveillance to save lives from melanoma
New research shows routine skin checks by a health professional, coupled with checking your own skin, are vital in saving lives from melanoma.
Game On Mole - saving lives this summer
With new patient figures indicating people may have deferred skin checks during the pandemic our Game On Mole campaign is more important than ever.
Melanoma March physical events in 2022
We are excited to announce a return to our much-loved physical Melanoma March events in March 2022!
Community Fundraising Wrap Up July-Sept 2021
Read more about the wonderful MIA community fundraising initiatives held recently.
Australian researchers spearhead paradigm shift in melanoma treatment
Drug therapy set to become standard treatment in high-risk early stage patients to stop disease spread
Melanoma Bike Bash 2021: What a ride!
Over two fun, yet challenging, days in September an intrepid group of riders and crew successfully completed the annual Melanoma Bike Bash in WA!
Prof Georgina Long AO awarded inaugural Outstanding Female Researcher Medal from AAHMS
Prof Long AO has been recognised by Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences for her transformative work advancing melanoma treatments.
MIA researchers awarded $7.2m in NHMRC grants for health research
Three MIA researchers at University of Sydney received grants to further their important melanoma research.
Amie St Clair Ball in Wagga postponed for a third time
COVID restrictions continue to impact fundraising for melanoma services in Riverina.
Honouring Ben's life by supporting the next generation of melanoma researchers
Ben Garrow lost his life to melanoma. In his honour his family has established a scholarship to support a PhD student whose work focuses on saving lives from melanoma.