Sunburnt - Anne Gately

About the Guest(s):

Anne Gately is an advertising professional, author, speaker, and an advocate for melanoma patients. She has survived stage four melanoma, beating the disease thanks to revolutionary treatment. With a background in advertising, Anne now uses her platform to raise awareness and drive cultural change regarding skin cancer in Australia. She is also the author of Sunburnt: A Memoir of Sun, Surf and Skin Cancer, where she shares her personal journey and challenges the societal norms surrounding sun exposure.

Professor Georgina Long, AO, was mentioned as the joint medical director at the Melanoma Institute Australia. Known for her pioneering work in melanoma research, she has significantly contributed to advancements in immunotherapy, which has saved many lives, including that of Dr. Richard Scollyer.

Episode Summary:

In this episode of "She Wasn't Born Yesterday," Janet Evans and Jenni Woodhouse host the remarkable Anne Gately, who survived stage four melanoma in just 97 days. This episode dives deep into Anne’s compelling journey from her initial diagnosis of skin cancer to her interactions with renowned medical professionals at the Melanoma Institute Australia. Anne generously shares the emotional and physical challenges she faced while undergoing treatment and stresses the importance of skin cancer awareness and sun protection, particularly in a culture that has long idolized tanning.

Amidst discussions of skin cancer prevention and treatment advancements, Anne shines a light on the vital work of Professor Georgina Long at the Melanoma Institute Australia. This episode is a call to redefine cultural attitudes towards sun exposure and highlights the pivotal role of immunotherapy in saving lives. The conversation navigates through Anne's personal revelations, her advocacy efforts, and her mission to effect change within Australian society. Key insights include the importance of knowing your skin, understanding the cultural impacts of sun exposure, and the need for systemic change in attitudes towards tanning.

Key Takeaways:

• Anne Gately's incredible journey of defeating stage four melanoma underscores the transformative impact of immunotherapy.
• Cultural attitudes towards tanning and sun exposure need a significant shift to prevent harmful consequences like skin cancer.
• Skin cancer prevention is a lifelong commitment, emphasizing the importance of sun protection from an early age.
• The work of Professor Georgina Long and her team at the Melanoma Institute Australia is crucial in advancing skin cancer treatment and saving lives.
• Systemic changes in advertising norms and sports policies are necessary to change the narrative around sun exposure in Australia.

Notable Quotes:

• "Melanoma is preventable. I felt a lot of shame attached to being diagnosed with melanoma." - Anne Gately
• "Even at 40 plus fabulous, it's never too late to protect our skin from the Aussie sun." - Janet Evans
• "You can't reverse the damage that you've done… but you can make it worse." - Anne Gately
• "If you have a pain that wakes you up in the middle of the night… that's something that should be checked out." - Anne Gately
• "We need to bring about cultural change in order to have huge change in this issue." - Anne Gately

Resources:

• Book: Sunburnt: A Memoir of Sun, Surf and Skin Cancer
• Melanoma Institute Australia: melanoma.org.au

She Wasn’t Born Yesterday, hosted by Janet Evans, a senior advertising creative and Jenni Woodhouse a semi retired social worker

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