Australian actor Hugh Jackman posted an unusual and scary selfie yesterday (21st November) on his Instagram. The photograph the 45-year-old actor uploaded showed his nose covered with a bandage.

Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman warned fans to protect their skin from the sun.

Jackman explained his bandaged nose, stating that his wife, Deborra-Lee Furness, had warned him to get a mark on his nose checked. After seeing a doctor it seems Jackman had a cancer scare as he had "basal cell carcinoma." He evidently had the cells removed, hence the bandage, but wanted to use his experience as a warning to others to wear sunscreen in order to decrease the likelihood of developing skin cancer. 

Jackman attached the following remark to his photograph: "Deb said to get the mark on my nose checked. Boy, was she right! I had a basil cell carcinoma. Please don't be foolish like me. Get yourself checked. And USE sunscreen!"

The Huffington Post researched the skin cancer Jackman had removed. Basal cell carcinoma is the most common form of skin cancer in the US but not in the world. It is a slow growing cancer which rarely spreads to other parts of the body. The cancer, presumably as in Jackman's case, usually displays itself on a damaged part of the skin as a 'white or waxy bump.' 

Jackman's decision to share the news with his fans and social media followers is likely to encourage people to get checked. This was the case, as The Australian reports, with Kylie Minogue's breast cancer announcement. An Australian study in 2005 noted the "Kylie effect" which saw an increase in screenings following the publicity. The report stated "Overall screening bookings rose 40 per cent in the two weeks of the publicity, with a 101 per cent increase in non-screened women in the eligible age-group 40-69 years. Six weeks after the publicity, bookings remained more than a third higher in non-screened women." 

Kylie Minogue
Publicity caused by Kylie Minogue's announcement prompted many women to get checked for breast cancer.