Oliver Callan, the RTÉ broadcaster from Inniskeen, has spoken about his recent skin cancer diagnosis. On his journey from detection to minor surgery, Oliver has learned much about skin cancer and, in particular, the form of the disease he contracted, basal cell carsinoma.
He considers it a mild form of cancer because it doesn't spread to other parts of the body like the most common form of cancer in Ireland, melanoma. The popular comedian said recovery for him was "torture" as he was advised not to smile or laugh in case he would open the wound between his mouth and nose from where his cancer was removed, so he watched horror shows like the news.
Following his own experience and by speaking to other cancer survivors for his radio show, Oliver has learned that even getting sunburnt three times in childhood can cause skin cancer later in life and he advises everyone to wear sunscreen and a hat: "Obviously, it's my own foolishness that I didn't cover up and use proper sunscreen particularly in teenage years are the dangerous years when you get sunburnt but, it was good to have the conversation because we don't cover up in the sun - you think 'I'm only going out to cut the grass - you need to slap on the sunscreen," Oliver told Northern Sound's Wider View programme, "I was interested to learn that in Australia you'll be kicked off a construction site if you're not wearing sunscreen and a hat."
