‘I knew it would catch up with me’: Champion survivor Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew’s dire warning

A world surfing great has issued an impassioned plea to teenagers across the nation, revealing how years exposed to the elements made him a “major skin cancer candidate”.

Surfing great Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew has issued an impassioned plea to teenagers across the nation, revealing how years exposed to the elements made him a “major skin cancer candidate”.

The former world champion has twice been forced to battle the damaging repercussions of melanoma; his most recent fight beginning last year.

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Bartholomew, a Coolangatta local, has lent his voice as an ambassador for next weekend’s Melanoma March in his hometown having admitted the “damage was done in my youth”.

While he said he was fortunate to catch his cancers early and prevent the long-term struggles so often synonymous with the disease, the care free nature of young adults needed to be eradicated when it came to their future health.

Wayne Rabbit Bartholomew has called on Australia’s youth to get regular skin checks. Picture Glenn Hampson

“I was told by dermatologists when I was 17 that I was a major skin cancer candidate because of my surfing,” Bartholomew said.

“They say you spend 10,000 hours to master something; I did that in the Queensland sun. As all teenagers we spent the time walking around with just a pair of shorts on and the girls in bikinis and it’s what they’re doing today.

“When you’re a teenager you’re 10 foot tall and bulletproof and you don’t really listen. “You’ve got this you beaut body, you’re out in the sun walking around with a good tan and looking beautiful, it doesn’t change generationally.

“The damage was done in my youth, and I knew it would catch up with me eventually.”

Bartholomew‘s status as an elite champion is hoped to draw greater attention to this year’s Melanoma Institute’s funding and research goals: to campaign for support of psychological health and wellbeing needs to severe cancer sufferers.

The goal of the March 4 Coolangatta march — and its fellow events in other states — is to raise $1 million for Australia’s first clinical trial aimed to treat fear of cancer recurrence experienced by those with advanced disease.

The trial will focus on identifying and supporting advanced melanoma patients experiencing fear and anxiety about their melanoma recurring or progressing, with the findings also set to benefit other cancer patients.

Former surfing world champion Wayne Rabbit Bartholomew. Picture Glenn Hampson

“Some 40 per cent of patients reported experiencing anxiety around their diagnosis and treatment, with one in two also reporting that anxiety and depression were not identified in routine clinical practice which was a barrier to them accessing support services,” Melanoma Institute Australia CEO Matthew Browne said.

“This Australian first clinical trial, led by senior clinical researchers at MIA, aims to ensure the emotional needs ofcancer patients are recognized and addressed as part of their routine clinical care.

“Supportive care research will give current and future patients a chance to have the best quality of life possible, byidentifying the psychological stresses they face and ensuring they have access to appropriate support services.”

Part of the March 4 event will also aim to tackle ‘glamorising tanning’ in Australian culture, a key factor contributing to the statistic in which one person every 30 minutes is diagnosed with melanoma.

To register or donate to Melanoma March, go to www.melanomamarch.org.au.