Hugh Jackman tests negative in skin cancer risk studies

Australian actor Hugh Jackman announced Thursday that he tested negative for basal cell skin cancer, a form of skin cancer that has plagued him for years. "Thank you all for the love (…) Please remember to wear sunblock cream -no matter the season," the 54-year-old actor, who is preparing to play Wolverine, a character from the "X-Men" film saga, again in Deadpool 3, said in a message on Instagram.

Indeed, basal cell carcinoma is a non-melanoma type of skin cancer, meaning it is much less likely to spread to other parts of the body. This type of cancer is caused by overexposure to the sun and sunbeds. In fact, the treatment of this type of cancer is successful in 90% of cases, according to the UK National Health Service (NHS). Jackman assured his followers that basal cell carcinomas are the "least dangerous" in the world of skin cancer. "Please use sunscreen, it's not worth it no matter how much you want to have a good tan. Believe me," he said.

Australia is "the skin cancer capital of the world," with more than 11,500 people diagnosed with melanoma and some 434,000 treated for other types of skin cancer each year. "Being Australian, it's a very common thing. I never wore sunscreen growing up, so I was an ideal candidate," said the Sydney-born actor". In 2015, Jackman told People magazine that his diagnosis had surprised him despite his knowledge on the subject. "It's always a bit of a shock to hear the word 'cancer.'"

Hugh Jackman has starred in Wolverine in the Marvel world, in addition to his role in Van Helsing (2004), the drama "The Prestige" (2006) and the musical "The Greatest Showman" (2017), among other hits.