Derryn Hinch, 80, reveals he is facing a ‘pretty serious’ battle with skin cancer as he details treatment: ‘It is not good’
Derryn Hinch has revealed he is facing a ‘pretty serious’ battle against skin cancer.
The Australian media personality, 80, said he is currently undergoing five weeks of daily radiation in a bid to get rid of a melanoma on his forehead.
The cancerous spot just below his hairline was first discovered by doctors in February and he had it removed. However, the doctors were unable to remove the entire area.
He then visited the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre to undergo another operation to remove the melanoma and is now undergoing radiation as ‘insurance’.
Derryn said he takes the medical issue seriously and focuses only on the day itself in addition to the daily treatment schedule.
‘It is not good. “I’ve had two operations on my face and they still need radiation,” he told the newspaper Herald Sun.
“The only good news is they looked at a spot where I had surgery about eight years ago on the other side (of his forehead) and it’s clear.
“I check off each day and once the day is over, it’s over. It’s pretty serious, but as someone once said, that’s life.”
Derryn Hinch (pictured in November 2018) has revealed he is facing a ‘pretty serious’ battle against skin cancer
The 80-year-old Australian media personality said he is currently undergoing five weeks of daily radiation in a bid to get rid of a melanoma on his forehead
Derryn remained optimistic and said he is ‘feeling good’ as he has three weeks of radiation treatment left at the Alfred Hospital.
Earlier this year, Derryn revealed that he almost died during a liver transplant in 2011 during his first battle with cancer.
The former Victoria senator told how he died on the operating table and had to be resuscitated, as he shared how grateful he is for every day of his life.
“I heard from my surgeon, Bob Jones, that I had died on the operating table and they brought me back. I’ve lived 13 years longer than I should have because I blew it,” he told the Herald Sun at the time.
“Since then I’ve had a political career, I’ve been a senator. I’ve been in journalism for over 60 years.”
The cancerous spot just below his hairline was first discovered by doctors in February and he underwent two surgeries to remove it, and is now undergoing radiation as ‘insurance’
Earlier this year, the former Victoria senator (pictured in 2018) revealed he nearly lost his life during a liver transplant in 2011 during his first battle with cancer
The politician underwent a liver transplant in 2011 after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. The organ was donated by Heath Gardner’s family.
But in 2020, the New Zealand-born presenter said he hadn’t spoken to the Gardner family in more than two years after he started drinking alcohol again following surgery.
‘They got very angry when I announced: “Yes, I have had a drink again”. Even though I had my doctor’s clearance, they didn’t like that,” he told the Herald Sun’s Showbiz fired podcast.
“I will always recognize that family for what they did and the fact that without them I wouldn’t be here,” he added, praising their generosity for keeping him alive.