Stage 4 melanoma patient at Hills Relay for Life on May 19, 2018

A “VANITY’’ check up four years ago led to Hills Relay for Life ambassador Damien MacRae’s life imploding.

Damien MacRae is a sun safety advocate. Pictures: Joel Carrett

A “VANITY” check up four years ago led to Hills Relay for Life ambassador Damien MacRae’s life imploding.

The then 38-year-old had found a mole on his left ear.

“I just wanted to get rid of the mole,’’ Mr MacRae said.

“It was starting to get bigger over a few months but I didn’t think much of it.

Damien MacRae’s doctor was in tears when he told him he had cancer.

“I already had a million moles over my body. It was only when the doctor said ‘oh this doesn’t look good’ that I started worrying.

“The doctor was basically in tears telling me this. He had tears and I thought ‘oh this must be serious’.

Mr MacRae lost part of his ear when the lump was removed and he said it was “a bit of a slap in the face to my vanity”.

The BROlly campaign promotes sun safety, particularly with men — ‘tough nuts to crack’.

He was diagnosed with Stage 4 melanoma — the deadliest form of cancer in Australia — and received the all clear when his lymph nodes were removed.

However, it wasted no time ravaging his body and a year later an X-ray revealed a lump on his left lung — three ribs had to be removed during “the worst operation” he ever had.

Eighteen months later he had a seizure — there was a tumour on his brain and nine more on his lung.

“I just lost all control of my body like an epileptic fit,’’ Mr MacRae said. “It was the scariest thing I ever experienced.”

Last March the father of one was told he only had a couple of months to live and was put in palliative care but fate had other plans.

‘They call me Lazarus’” Damien MacRae.

“It’s a miracle,’’ Mr Mac­Rae said.

“They (doctors) call me Lazarus because they gave up on me and told me to plan for my death. It was rough for someone who was 42 at the time.”

He has shelved “preparing for death” and lives with his mother in Kellyville Ridge, visiting his wife Yolande and son Aiden on weekends.

Surgery has been taxing for the former intellectual property lawyer. He can only walk for 12 minutes or work on a computer for 20 minutes before he feels drained.

However, he is using his “miracle” time wisely and will be a sun safety advocate at the Cancer Council’s fundraiser, Hills Relay for Life, at Castle Hill Showground on Saturday and Sunday.

A key part of the event is the BROlly theme which encourages people, especially men, to look after their skin.

“Like every ’80s kid I was taken to the beach and didn’t have any sun protection,” Mr MacRae said.

His twin brother, who ran marathons and swam sans sunscreen, has heeded his brother’s advice and Mr MacRae hopes others follow suit.

Part of his message involves simple steps such as walking with an umbrella.

“Women are more receptive to it but men are a more hard nut to crack,’’ he said.

Register at relayforlife.org.au