Below Deck captain Jason Chambers shares cancer diagnosis after admitting mistake
Below Deck Down Under star Jason Chambers has opened up about his recent skin cancer diagnosis, detailing the experience in a heartfelt Instagram video. With honesty and concern, he revealed that medics had discovered melanoma, a dangerous type of skin cancer that 'develops from malignant cells in the melanocytes, the cells that give skin its colour'.
In the shared footage, Jason talked through his reluctance to use suncream previously, despite its risks, while alerting his substantial 344K followers to take heed. He explained: "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."
As he went on, Chambers stressed the importance of moderation and savvy sun exposure choices. He said: "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."
Jason has been showered with support after sharing his health challenge, receiving warm words such as "Praying for good results" from fellow Below Deck captain Sandy Yawn. Melanoma, which Jason is bravely facing, is a cancer that can spread to other parts of the body but prevention measures include the use of sunscreen as recommended by the NHS, reports OK!.
Known for his role on Below Deck Down Under, Captain Jason Chambers made his debut as the yacht's skipper in 2022. The popular series is the Australian counterpart to the original Below Deck and provides insight into the professional and personal dynamics of those working on a luxury charter yacht. Find out about the latest events in Wales by signing up to our What's On newsletter here.
A devoted father, Jason cares for his 10 daughter Saskia, whom he co-parents with his ex-wife Fuchsia Quinn. He recently grabbed headlines when he advocated strongly against sexual misconduct following troubling events on his show. Taking to Instagram, Captain Chambers expressed his appreciation for the production crew's quick handling of two distressing incidents and addressed the flood of comments from viewers expressing concern.
The events took place in the latest instalment of Below Deck Down Under, where cast members Luke Jones and Laura Bileskalne faced backlash for their inappropriate advances towards fellow crew members. After an episode broadcast on August 7 showcased these actions, audiences commended Captain Chambers for upholding strict boundaries against such misconduct.
