Brave young woman who waged high-profile campaign for more public awareness after she was diagnosed with melanoma tragically loses her fight aged 28
- Gina Savage died from an incurable melanoma on Monday
- She was a strong advocate for awareness of the disease
A young woman who spent the last years of her life spreading awareness about melanoma has died.
Brisbane advocate Gina Savage, 28, died on Monday, eight years after she was diagnosed with incurable metastatic melanoma.
Her foundation, the Six Hour Project, shared a memorial post on Saturday.
‘We are deeply, deeply saddened to share the news that we lost our gorgeous light, Gina, on Monday 12 June after an eight year battle with melanoma,’ it read.
‘Gina lived every day to the fullest and truly squeezed every minute out of life, all while remaining a true advocate for melanoma prevention and awareness, after being diagnosed with the insidious disease at just 20 years old.
‘She was dedicated to raising funds and awareness for those facing the same fight as her, or those that might still have it ahead of them.
‘There are no words to describe this insurmountable loss in all of our lives and the lives of her enormous circle of family and friends.’
Young advocate Gina Savage (above) died from an incurable melanoma on Monday after spending the last years of her life spreading awareness about the disease
Ms Savage completed four rounds of radiation, tried five systemic drugs and had 60 lymph nodes, 17 melanoma tumours and both ovaries removed (pictured, a melanoma on her back)
The Melanoma Institute Australia also shared a tribute, writing: ‘We are extremely saddened to hear of the passing of Gina Savage at the age of just 28.
‘During her eight-year battle with melanoma Gina was dedicated to driving awareness of melanoma and fundraising for melanoma research.
‘We are so grateful for everything she did, including supporting MIA at the National Press Club of Australia address in Canberra last year.
‘We still have much to do but the work of Gina Savage, and others like her, inspire us all to double our efforts and get to zero deaths from this awful disease.’
Ms Savage was diagnosed with melanoma in 2015, when she was 20, after she found a small bump on her scalp.
The cancer spread through her body and she underwent three major surgeries to remove tumours from her abdomen and pelvis.
During her treatment, she completed four rounds of radiation, tried five systemic drugs and had 60 lymph nodes, 17 melanoma tumours and both ovaries removed.
Ms Savage’s passion was spreading awareness about melanoma and sun safety.
Ms Savage (above) founded the Six Hour project to spread awareness about melanoma and slammed the ‘glamorisation’ of tanning on social media
A memorial service for Ms Savage (above) will be held at the Brisbane Powerhouse on Thursday
In particular she slammed the ‘glamorisation’ of tanning on social media, describing it as a ‘kick in the guts’.
‘Watching people glamorise a tan across social media is honestly a kick in the guts, when myself and so many others are fighting for our lives,’ she said last November.
The Melanoma Institute Australia warns one Australian is diagnosed with melanoma every 30 minutes and one Aussie dies from the cancer every six hours.
A memorial service for Ms Savage will be held at the Brisbane Powerhouse on Thursday, June 22.
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