Former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke reveals shock cancer ‘scare’

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Australian cricket great Michael Clarke has been rocked by a shock cancer “scare”.

The former Aussie captain has opened up on his operation to remove a dangerous basal cell carcinoma from his chest.

Clarke required 27 stitches after the surgery to remove the skin cancer.

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“It does scare me,” Clarke told News Corp.

“I am a dad … I don’t want to go anywhere. The most important thing in the world is making sure I help my seven-year-old daughter (Kelsey Lee) and I guess set a good example for her.

“To me, making sure I am putting sunscreen on so she can see it is not just me getting her to do it, it is dad doing it as well.”

Clarke has become an ambassador for the Australian Skin Cancer Foundation. Credit: Getty Images

Clarke’s family has a history of cancer, with his grandfather dying of bowel cancer, and his father diagnosed with prostate cancer battle, as well as hodgkins lymphoma.

And Clarke, 42, has had a number of cancers removed in recent years after his first diagnosis in 2006.

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In fact, only last year he had a cancer removed from his forehead.

The cricketer turned commentator is also aware he has spent a lot of time in the sun over his 115 Tests and 245 one-day internationals for Australia.

For that reason he has just joined the Australian Skin Cancer Foundation as a national ambassador.

“I am excited to partner with the Australian Skin Cancer Foundation to not only spread the word on skin safety, but to help share the importance of sun protection, getting checked and remembering prevention is better than cure,” Clarke said in a statement.

“I know first-hand how important these factors are and I am passionate about raising awareness on this vital subject.

“Everyone needs to be aware of the danger of the sun all around the world, but particularly in this country. This is not just about being safe, this is about saving lives.”

Clarke is now on a mission to spread ‘sun safe’ messages across the country.

He will also assist in the national rollout of ‘Skin Check’ trucks which were recently launched by the Skin Cancer Foundation.

The ‘Skin Check’ truck is an Australian first and is travelling to remote communities to perform free skin checks.