‘Downright dumb’: Tammy Hembrow slammed for bikini photos after melanoma scare

Just weeks after having a melanoma removed, Tammy Hembrow has drawn ire by posting photos of herself sunbathing to social media.

Just weeks after having a melanoma removed, Tammy Hembrow has drawn ire by posting photos of herself sunbathing to social media.

The fitness star shared in early June that “quite a big chunk” was taken out of the back of her leg after a “little freckle” turned out to be the deadly form of skin cancer.

Hembrow raised eyebrows, however, when on Wednesday she shared a series of pictures of herself modelling swimwear out in the sun – with the bandage covering her wound, which required 30 stitches, visible.

Tammy Hembrow has drawn ire by posting photos of herself sunbathing to social media. Picture: Instagram

‘You’re another type of thick if you’re sunbathing after just having a melanoma removed.’ Picture: Instagram

‘Why are you sunbathing when you just had a cancer scare? Seems irresponsible and honestly downright dumb.’ Picture: Instagram

“OMG, U (sic) just had a melanoma removed and r (sic) sunbathing,” one follower commented on Hembrow’s post.

“You’re another type of thick if you’re sunbathing after just having a melanoma removed,” wrote a second.

“Why are you sunbathing when you just had a cancer scare? Seems irresponsible and honestly downright dumb,” said a third.

The mother-of-three shocked her millions of followers with news of her health scare, sharing she’d cancelled several skin check appointments because she was “busy”.

“This is your sign to go get your skin checked,” Hembrow said in a video on TikTok.

“I finally went and there was a new little freckle on the back of my leg.”

The mother-of-three urged her followers to get their skin checked regularly. Picture: Instagram

The fitness star required 30 stitches to close the wound on her leg. Picture: Instagram

While the Gold Coast native didn’t think much of it, “when my doctor looked at it, he thought it looked a little bit suss”.

Turns out, it was melanoma – the deadliest form of skin cancer. According to current Cancer Council statistics, two in three Aussies are predicted to be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer by the age of 70.

“I went back this morning and [the doctor] had to take a big chunk out of my leg,” Hembrow said.

“I’ve got about 30 stitches … And now I have to go back every three months for a full skin check to make sure that it isn’t coming back.”

‘Don’t be stupid like me and think you’re somehow invincible, because you’re not.’ Picture: Instagram

Hembrow went on to say she was “super, super lucky” doctors were able to spot and remove the cancer when they did.

“As you know, I’m in the sun all the time. I go to the beach all the time. I haven’t been the most diligent person when it comes to wearing sunscreen and things like that,” she said.

“To be honest, I feel like an idiot because it’s just one of those things you don’t think will happen to you until it does.”

She added that the ordeal had been a “wake-up call”.

“Don’t be stupid like me and think you’re somehow invincible, because you’re not,” she said.

Originally published as ‘Downright dumb’: Tammy Hembrow slammed for bikini photos after melanoma scare