Pregnant AFLW star Renee Garing reveals skin cancer diagnosis and surgery just weeks before giving birth
Renee Garing has revealed that she was diagnosed with a form of skin cancer just weeks before she gave birth.
The heavily pregnant AFLW star, 36, took to Instagram on Saturday to share the sobering health update with her followers.
She shared a photo of herself and her husband Tony sunbathing on the beach on holiday, and detailed her health problems in a lengthy caption.
‘Skin cancer. Melanoma. Not something I expected at 36 years old or 33 weeks pregnant,” Renee began.
The Geelong player then revealed she has already undergone surgery to have the cancer removed, and is now on the road to a full recovery.
‘Thankful we caught this early, it’s not invasive. Hopefully everything is cut away and gone,” she continued.
‘Many stitches and a significant scar left at the site of the birthmark, as a good reminder for the future.
‘It will be several skin checks per year for a while and then annually for life.’
Renee Garing has revealed that she was diagnosed with a form of skin cancer just weeks before she gave birth
Renee then thanked Geelong FC for encouraging the players to undergo regular health checks, which helped ensure her cancer was detected early.
“I’m very grateful that when I was with 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 life and promised fans that she will be very safe from the sun in the future.
‘I’ve always enjoyed being out in the sun. “I loved lying by the pool/beach, going for walks, enjoying my work and spending a lot of time outdoors and exercising in the fresh air,” she said.
The heavily pregnant AFLW star, 36, took to Instagram on Saturday to share the sobering health update with her followers. She is currently over 33 weeks pregnant
‘It seems that all this together led to this diagnosis. So my other encouragement is to be aware of sun protection. I know I will be extra vigilant.”
Renee made her AFLW debut in the 2019 season after playing for Geelong for the first time 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.