Irish tradie issues warning to expats after shock diagnosis

An Irish carpenter living in Sydney has shared a health warning for other expats after he was diagnosed with a deadly skin cancer.

Noel Quinn told nine.com.au he came to Australia from Ireland two-and-a-half years ago on a working holiday visa, keen for a new experience.

He has since been sponsored by his employer for a skilled visa, and was hoping to be granted permanent residency in Australia.

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However, last month, Quinn received some devastating news, which threw all of his plans out the window.

Quinn was diagnosed with an aggressive melanoma, with doctors believing the skin cancer was triggered by his high exposure to UV in Australia.

The tradie said the diagnosis came as a terrible shock, as there were no suspicious moles to alert him to the cancer.

"I didn't have any marks on my skin or anything," he said. 

"I went to bed one night and, when I woke up, I couldn't move my leg."

Alarmed, Quinn went to the doctor, who ordered some scans and tests.

The scans detected a tumour on Quinn's brain, which was later confirmed as a BRAF-positive melanoma.

Cancerous growths were also found on Quinn's kidney and tailbone.

Although most melanomas appear as a distinct mole or spot, in rare cases there can be no outward marking on the skin at all.

One Australian study, published in the National Library of Medicine in 2018, found around 3.2 percent of all melanomas have no known primary site.

There are also some melanomas, called amelanotic melanomas, which don't have any pigment and do not appear dark. These lesions may be pink, red, or flesh-toned.

Doctors told Quinn the growing tumour on the left side of his brain was pressing down on his nerves and blocking the signals that allowed him to use his left leg.

Quinn said he was not aware that Australia had among the highest levels of UV radiation in the world, however, he said he had been reasonably careful about his sun exposure during his time here.

"I always cover myself up with clothes and suncream. I wasn't even at the beach much, I prefer to go camping," he said.

It was perhaps his fair Irish skin that had left him vulnerable, Quinn said. 

He urged all expats, and Australians to be careful in the sun.

"You've just got to look after yourself and cover up and wear suncream," he said.

Quinn has already undergone one round of radiation and has since regained the use of his left leg.

He is now receiving immunotherapy, with the medication targeted to his specific cancer mutation.

As a temporary resident, Quinn is not eligible for Medicare, and each cycle of immunotherapy can cost up to $15,000.

Quinn's sister and friend have started a GoFundMe, which has already raised more than $50,000 towards his treatment costs.

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