TAKING a more relaxed approach to life seems to agree with Clint Heal, Mandurah-raised founder of the Melanoma WA website.
The juicer gets a workout every morning in the kitchen of Clint’s Mariners Cove home as he pulverises apple, carrot, cucumber, beetroot, broccoli and spinach for a mineral-rich health drink that he downs before a 30-minute meditation session.
If he’s lucky he squeezes in a surf – a favourite way to simultaneously relax and keep fit – into his daily schedule which, until two years ago, was jammed with oncology appointments, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
The 26-year-old sports mad radiotherapist is now gearing up for the annual March for Melanoma, presented by Melanoma WA, at Ozone Reserve, Perth Foreshore on March 6 from 4pm to raise skin and melanoma awareness.
Clint had just finished university when he was diagnosed with a secondary melanoma. He didn’t detect the first stage lesion, thought to have occurred somewhere on his head, until it spread to the left side of his face, appearing as a secondary lump that he found a week after he turned 22.
During his treatment, Clint researched the deadly disease and decided to publish the information on a one-stop website that he launched in September 2008, emblazoned with his creed, Choose to Live.
A week later, he established a monthly support group and organising the march is another way to promote the importance of regularly checking the skin for new or unusual blemishes before they advance to stage two and multiply throughout the body, with potentially deadly consequences.
Over the past four years, Clint has had 31 secondary melanomas removed from his body, the last just two weeks ago, and stresses that while the disease is most common in the young to middle aged, it is also one of the most preventable cancers.
Going public with his story has helped people feel more comfortable talking about the disease and some had even sent him digital photos of dodgy moles and freckles for his esteemed opinion.
“Obviously I suggest people visit their doctor for a professional opinion but if telling my story makes people more aware of their skin, I am very happy,” Clint said.
The march includes a 4km walk or 10km run and entertainment by upcoming Perth bands Sneaky Weasel Gang and Place of Indigo will continue from 7-9pm.
For more details, visit www.melanomawa.org.au.