Pregnant AFLW star Renee Garing reveals skin cancer diagnosis and surgery just weeks before giving birth
Renee Garing has revealed she has been diagnosed with a form of skin cancer just weeks before she is due to give birth.
The heavily pregnant AFLW star, 36, took to Instagram on Saturday to provide the sobering health update with her followers.
She shared a photograph of herself and her husband Tony sunbathing on the beach while on holiday and detailed her health scare in a long caption.
‘Skin cancer. Melanoma. Not something I expected to hear at 36 years old or 33 weeks pregnant,’ Renee began.
The Geelong player then revealed she has already undergone surgery to get the cancer removed, and is now on the way to making a full recovery.
‘Thankful to have caught this early, it’s not invasive. Hopefully all has been cut out and gone,’ she went on.
‘Plenty of stitches and a decent scar to be left in place of the mole as a good reminder for the future.
‘It’ll be multiple skin checks per year for a while and then yearly for life.’
Renee Garing has revealed she has been diagnosed with a form of skin cancer just weeks before she is due to give birth
Renee then thanked Geelong FC for encouraging the players to undergo regular health checks, which ensured her cancer was found early.
‘Very grateful that when I was at the Geelong Cats we were encouraged to get our skin checked,’ she said.
She added that the melanoma was likely a result of her outdoor lifestyle and promised fans she will be very sun-safe going forward.
‘I’ve always loved being out in the sunshine. I’ve loved laying by the pool/beach, going for walks, enjoy my job being outdoors a lot of the time and playing sport in the fresh air,’ she shared.
The heavily pregnant AFLW star, 36, took to Instagram on Saturday to provide the sobering health update with her followers. She is currently more than 33 weeks pregnant
‘Seems all this combined has led to this diagnosis. So, my other encouragement is to be conscious of sun protection. I know I’ll be extra vigilant.’
Renee made her AFLW debut in the 2019 season after first playing for Geelong in the VFL competition.
She shares her first child, two-year-old Parker, with her husband Tony and they are currently expecting their second child together.