After being diagnosed with a stage one melanoma in 2018, four-time Olympic swimmer Cate Campbell became an advocate for sun safety and skin cancer prevention, and an official ambassador for the Melanoma Institute of Australia (MIA). The current multiple world record holder is also an Eau Thermale Avène ambassador, a brand which has a long history of sun-safety advocacy.
Congratulations on all of your incredible swimming achievements! Any secrets to your success you can share?
I’m not sure if there is a secret unfortunately, what I would say, is that consistency and hard work trump talent. Consistency isn’t sexy, and hard work is unappealing, but when you combine those two things, it’s amazing what you can achieve.
How did it feel being diagnosed with a stage one melanoma in 2018?
It was a huge shock. I can remember my dermatologist calling me on the phone with the results of my biopsy and telling me it was a stage one melanoma. At the word melanoma, time seemed to freeze. All I can remember thinking was: Melanoma means cancer. What is my life going to look like now? Fortunately, when you catch melanoma at stage one, it is unlikely to have spread to other parts of your body. I just had to go back and get surgery to remove a margin of tissue from around the mole to make sure all the cancerous cells were removed, and I now get skin checks every six months. I was very lucky, if it progresses even to stage two, I might have had to undergo radiation treatment and if it progresses to stage four, the mortality rate is over 85 per cent.
Why is it important to raise awareness of skin cancer?
Melanoma is the most common cancer in people aged 18-35 in Australia. It is known as the ‘young person’s cancer’. I shudder to think what would have happened if I didn’t go for that skin check – the outcome could have changed my life forever. So if I can encourage one person to go and get a skin check, then that is a good outcome.
How is being an Avène Brand Ambassador a good fit for you?
Avène is a globally respected brand, I had actually been using their products before I came on as a brand ambassador. I love how passionate they are about sharing the message of sun safety – they have built whole campaigns around it. One of the best things you can do to protect yourself against harmful UV rays is to wear sunscreen – yet one of the barriers to people wearing sunscreen every day is that sunscreen can often be oily and sticky. The composition of Avène’s Sunscreen Aqua-fluid is lightweight and moisturising and you can wear it under make-up or use it over your moisturiser every day.
Swimming and being in the sun is such an important part of Aussie culture – how can we safely enjoy our outdoor lifestyle?
Firstly, wear sunscreen. Everyday. Whether you are planning on going to the beach or spending time outdoors, the best thing you can do is make sunscreen a habit. Then try and stay out of the sun in the middle of the day – this is when the UV index is at its highest. Invest in shade options to take to the beach and reapply sunscreen regularly. I am not saying stay inside this summer – quite the opposite! Get out and enjoy all the wonderful things Australia has to offer, but do it safely. You will definitely find me at the beach or climbing up a mountain this summer – but I always make sure I have sunscreen and a hat with me.
Always read the label and follow the directions for use. Wear protective clothing, hats and eyewear when exposed to the sun. Avoid prolonged exposure in the sun. Reapply
frequently to maintain protection.
About Cate:
- Cate Natalie Campbell is a Malawian-born Australian competitive swimmer, and a current multiple world record holder.
- Cate won two bronze medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics, a gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics, a gold and a silver medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics and a gold medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
- Cate is the current world record holder in the Long Course 4 x 100 m Freestyle Relay with Team Australia and the short course 100 m freestyle. Cate was one of the flagbearers for Australia at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics alongside basketball player Patty Mills.
This article will appear in the Autumn 2023 issue of Retail Beauty.