Conquering Skin Cancer: The documentary all teenagers should see

Skin cancer prevention is taught in primary schools, but once kids hit their teens, that lesson flies out the window. About 80 per cent of them think having a tan rocks. This may change their minds.

Deborah Hutton in Conquering Skin Cancer.

I suspect my mother was furious with my father on more than one occasion, but the time that sticks to mind is when he solo-parented us to the beach and forgot to slip, slop, slap. My brother, sister and I returned home red as beetroots and our father had his skin torn off in turn.

This childhood memory came to mind as I watched Conquering Skin Cancer, an informative documentary on the preventable disease that kills about 1500 Australians a year. By way of comparison the 2023 road toll was 1266.

“Australia is the world champion of skin cancer,’’ notes one of the cancer experts interviewed. The aim of this documentary, directed by Mike Hill, is to educate Australians so we lose that title.

It’s a straightforward account that tells it like it is, a bit like a non-nonsense doctor. It explains how skin cancer comes about – it’s the ultra violet radiation that counts, not whether it’s bright and hot outside – what we should do to prevent it, and the treatments available if prevention has come too late.

There is a humorous moment when the filmmakers vox pop people in the street, asking them if they worry about skin cancer. “We’re from Scotland,’’ replies one man, “so not really.” I’m glad that was left in.

The Australian facts and figures are provided by the medical experts and cancer prevention advocates. The numbers are disturbing.

Australia’s annual spend on treating skin cancer is $1.7bn and it’s predicted to rise. At the same time, 80 per cent of skin cancers can be treated if detected early.

The filmmakers speak to well-known skin cancer survivors, including actor Hugh Jackman, a bronzed Aussie if ever the was one.

“It’s two minutes of your life,’’ the star of Baz Luhrmann’s 2018 film Australia says of having a skin check, “and I promise you you won’t regret it.

Others include Olympic swimmer Cate Campbell, champion surfer Wayne Bartholomew and model and media personality Deborah Hutton. “It we could make beautiful, pale skin ‘the look’, it would be fantastic,’’ Hutton says.

That is not going to happen any time soon. Skin cancer prevention is taught in primary schools, but once kids hit their teens, that lesson flies out the window. About 80 per cent of Australian teenagers think having a tan rocks. They – and their parents – should watch this documentary to see what happens when skin cancer takes hold. The most confronting interviews are with ordinary survivors who show their physical wounds and talk about their psychological ones.

About 80 per cent of Australian teenagers think having a tan rocks. Picture: istock

Their experiences are far more painful than having a mole cut from the skin. They have organs taken out, eyes removed, limbs amputated. One man shows how half of his head is made up of skin grafts from his thigh. “I never thought I’d have to shave my legs,’’ he jokes. Even so, he is happy to be alive.

Prevention is the prime message of this documentary. Failing that, the next step is early detection. After watching it, and noting that summer is upon us, I immediately took Wolverine’s advice and booked myself in for a skin check.

Conquering Skin Cancer (PG)

90 minutes
In cinemas from December 4

★★★