<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>An Irish carpenter living in Sydney has shared a health warning for other expats after he was diagnosed with a deadly skin cancer.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Noel Quinn told </span><a href="http://nine.com.au"><span>nine.com.au</span></a><span> he came to Australia from Ireland two-and-a-half years ago on a working holiday visa, keen for a new experience.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He has since been sponsored by his employer for a skilled visa, and was hoping to be granted permanent residency in Australia.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/household-debt-australia-why-we-feel-poor-despite-being-among-worlds-richest-countries/79fe0a69-9ec1-4094-b924-f02be903fc8c" rel="" target="" title="The one chart that reveals why Australians feel so poor"><strong><span>The one chart that reveals why Australians feel so poor</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, last month, Quinn received some devastating news, which threw all of his plans out the window.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Quinn was diagnosed with an aggressive melanoma, with doctors believing the skin cancer was triggered by his high exposure to UV in Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The tradie said the diagnosis came as a terrible shock, as there were no suspicious moles to alert him to the cancer.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/irish-tradie-issues-warning-to-expats-in-australia-after-shock-diagnosis/f7a024d5-5d2f-4804-8304-dea095fcec8e" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I didn't have any marks on my skin or anything," he said. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I went to bed one night and, when I woke up, I couldn't move my leg."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Alarmed, Quinn went to the doctor, who ordered some scans and tests.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The scans detected a tumour on Quinn's brain, which was later confirmed as a BRAF-positive melanoma.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Cancerous growths were also found on Quinn's kidney and tailbone.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Although most melanomas appear as a distinct mole or spot, in rare cases there can be no outward marking on the skin at all.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>One </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK506989/"><span>Australian study</span></a><span>, published in the National Library of Medicine in 2018, found around 3.2 percent of all melanomas have no known primary site.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>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.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I always cover myself up with clothes and suncream. I wasn't even at the beach much, I prefer to go camping," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It was perhaps his fair Irish skin that had left him vulnerable, Quinn said. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He urged all expats, and Australians to be careful in the sun.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"You've just got to look after yourself and cover up and wear suncream," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Quinn has already undergone one round of radiation and has since regained the use of his left leg.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He is now receiving immunotherapy, with the medication targeted to his specific cancer mutation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>As a temporary resident, Quinn is not eligible for Medicare, and each cycle of immunotherapy can cost up to $15,000.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Quinn's sister and friend have started a GoFundMe, which has already raised more than $50,000 towards his treatment costs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><strong><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank" title=""><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>