Cronulla’s Emma Verran urges people to get skin checks after melanoma scare

Emma Verran has encouraged skin checks and sunscreen use after revealing the lucky break which led to an early diagnosis of melanoma.

NSW Origin star Emma Verran has shared news of a cancer scare after revealing she has been treated for melanoma found during a recent skin check.

In a video posted on social media on Wednesday night, the 30-year-old encouraged people to get skin checks and wear sunscreen more often while revealing her own brush with the most serious form of skin cancer.

“A couple of months ago I had my skin checked by the Australian Skin Cancer foundation bus at an event,” she said.

“I had a mole on my back that I was a bit worried about, it didn’t really look anything crazy but they picked it up and sent me for more checks at the doctor. It was then removed at the doctor and the results from the testing of that mole came back as melanoma.

“So yeah, pretty scary, but I’m lucky they caught it pretty early.

“I’m going in (on Thursday) to get more skin taken out, a wider excision of the area to make sure it doesn’t come back, it’ll all be fine, everything is good, I just thought I would share this in the hopes that maybe even one person will go and get their skin checked or you’ll wear sunscreen more often.”

Cronulla and NSW star Emma Verran has shared the details of her recent cancer scare.

Statistics from Cancer Council Australia website say two in three Australians will be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer during their lifetime, while more than 95 per cent of skin cancers are caused by exposure to UV radiation.

Melanoma is the least common but most serious form of skin cancer as it can spread to other parts of the body if not treated early.

It appears Verran is one of the lucky ones, but her warning has been reached far and wide across women’s rugby league with comments from fellow players and fans encouraging her to share the important message.

The news comes a week after the Cronulla five-eighth celebrated winning the State of Origin series with NSW in Newcastle.

On Thursday she posted a picture to Instagram from her hospital bed after having the excision.

“Thanks for all the love everyone.”

Originally published as Cronulla’s Emma Verran urges people to get skin checks after melanoma scare