Featured Image Credit: Instagram/@captainjchambers/Bravo
Topics: Reality TV, Cancer, Health
Kya Buller
Topics: Reality TV, Cancer, Health
Star of Below Deck Down Under, Jason Chambers, has revealed a tragic diagnosis of skin cancer.
The 52-year-old reality star and ship captain revealed his diagnosis on Instagram.
Jason, who joined the cast of Below Deck in 2022, said: "Update on the biopsy I had. It came back with melanoma. I’m in Australia. That was done in Bali.
"The Australian doctors, which are fantastic in Australia, they weren’t happy with what the indications told them to go to the stage two which would be to cut out a bigger section and test the glands. Look Australia, two out of three people suffer from melanoma. It’s a big thing. I never used to wear sunscreen when I was on the boat.
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"I used to put zinc on my nose, the reason being the chemicals. But there’s so many products out there that are chemical-free now, which is great. For someone that spent their life in the sun, as a child playing sport to working on the ocean, I thought I was resistant to the damaging effects of the sun."
He continued: "I love the sun and its health benefits are evident, but be wise and like everything in life, it’s all about balance, choose your battles. With a diagnosed melanoma biopsy, I now have an anxious wait and what I thought was a skin spot turned in just 6 months, early detection is the key."
Cancer Research explains: "Melanoma is a type of skin cancer. It starts in cells in the skin called melanocytes," and that "symptoms of melanoma include a change to a mole, freckle or normal patch of skin."
They continue: "Your risk of developing melanoma skin cancer depends on many things. In the UK, too much ultraviolet radiation causes around 85 out of 100 melanomas (around 85%). Melanoma skin cancer is the 5th most common cancer overall in the UK."
The captain has previously spoken out about allegations of sexual misconduct on the set of the seafaring reality show in which cast members work and live on luxury ships and cater to guests.
Captain Chambers acted quickly to resolve the matter, calling an emergency meeting to terminate the contracts of the employees involved on the Northern Sun.
A social media post that followed included: "I applaud the production team and crew, and I sincerely hope that all parties involved use this time to reflect and use this opportunity to not only change, but help others. Everyone has the chance in life to grow, learn from experiences either good or bad and become the best humans. Respect Boundaries."