Natalie Barr admits the shocking thing she did growing up in the 80s as Sunrise star reveals her first thoughts upon learning of her cancer diagnosis: ‘Your mind goes off on a tangent’

Natalie Barr has shed more light on her recent skin cancer diagnosis.

The TV presenter, 56, said the shock news was ‘a huge wake-up call’ before admitting to a lack of skin protection in her youth.

‘I grew up in the ’70s and ’80s and put baby oil on my skin to sunbathe on (Western Australia’s) Scarborough Beach,’ she told New Idea.

‘We didn’t think about skin cancer back then and only wore a hat if it matched our outfit,’ she added.

The Sunrise presenter also opened up about the moment she learned of her terrifying diagnosis.

‘When you hear the “C” word, the shock goes right through you… your mind goes off on a tangent,’ she told the publication.

‘I am going to double my efforts when it comes to protecting myself because being told you have cancer, even at the earliest stage, really just brings home what you could stand to lose if the diagnosis was worse – like it is for so many other Australians,’ she admitted. 

The Sunrise co-host told viewers last Tuesday the discovery occurred when she visited her dermatologist after discovering a tiny persistent ‘pimple’ on her nose.

Natalie’s doctor used state-of-the-art AI and ‘Spectra-Scope’ devices to inspect the blemish and found a cancerous lesion.

‘I had a pimple on my nose that wouldn’t go away, plus I reckon it had been a couple of years since I had a skin check, so I went to the dermatologist,’ she said.

‘He said it was skin cancer – this tiny little dot on my nose. The good thing is I got it really early, and there’s not much treatment.’

The TV presenter said the shock news was ‘a huge wake-up call’ before admitting to a lack of skin protection in the 80’s

Natalie went on to explain the spot is so small she is able to have it removed with two non-invasive treatments.

The TV star’s dermatologist used an AI device to detect worrisome changes in her skin when compared to a global database.

He then used a laser-induced plasma device called a Spectra-Scope to detect cancerous cells in the spot, before doing a biopsy to confirm it was skin cancer.

‘I grew up in the ’70s and ’80s and put baby oil on my skin to sunbathe on (WA’s) Scarborough Beach… we didn’t think about skin cancer back then and only wore a hat if it matched our outfit,’ she told New Idea

Co-host Matt ‘Shirvo’ Shirvington asked Natalie: ‘When you saw that graph, and it indicated that it was skin cancer, how nervous were you?’

‘You sort of go, “Oh my God.” So many Aussies, millions and millions of us, have skin cancer, but it does make you think,’ the breakfast show host responded.

The Channel Seven star said she hoped it served as a reminder to everyone to get their skin checked regularly.