Australian left-arm pacer Lauren Cheatle has shared her determination to bounce back after being diagnosed with skin cancer for the second time. The 25-year-old’s cricket season was cut short just a month after her Test debut in India when doctors discovered a melanoma on her neck.
Cheatle had initially visited a doctor to examine a mark on her thigh, but a white halo around a mole on her neck led to further investigation and diagnosis. Thankfully, the melanoma was removed before it could spread, and she is now focusing on recovery, awaiting the wound to heal before resuming bowling.
Cheatle admitted she was caught off guard by the diagnosis, describing her initial reaction as one of shock and distress. She was pretty surprised and upset at the time. She had no idea, as the mole showed none of the usual signs she had previously been told to look out for.
From a professional standpoint, Cheatle said the news was both upsetting and disappointing, especially given the timing. However, she acknowledged that her health had to come first, particularly due to her history with skin cancer.
Cheatle was first diagnosed with early-stage skin cancer on her leg in 2021, and the timing of her latest diagnosis has been especially difficult. Having debuted for Australia at just 17 in 2016, the left-arm quick had previously feared her international career was over after a series of shoulder surgeries.
However, a strong performance throughout the full WBBL 09 season helped her earn a long-awaited Baggy Green earlier this summer. Unfortunately, the recent skin cancer diagnosis ruled her out of the WACA Test against South Africa.
Cheatle said she had been hopeful of being included in the squad, making her unavailability all the more disappointing. She described missing out on the WPL in India and the upcoming Bangladesh tour as tough setbacks.
Cheatle expressed excitement at seeing fellow quick Tayla Vlaeminck fit again and said she was genuinely happy for her teammate. Looking ahead, she said the best thing she could do was enjoy her cricket, focus on a strong pre-season, and prepare for the domestic season.
“If Australian selection follows that, so be it. If it doesn’t, (I want to) just start playing really consistently and being on the park for as long as possible,” she added.
Cheatle sees her experience as a valuable real-life lesson for others. As part of a new initiative by Cricket NSW, all players remaining in Sydney underwent skin and eye checks. Cheatle now receives full-body imaging every four months and hopes her story will encourage others to have regular skin screenings.
She shared that she has had two skin cancers by the age of 25, emphasising how common the condition is in Australia, where two in three people are affected. With cricket being an outdoor sport, the risk is even higher.
Cheatle noted the positive changes she has observed among her teammates, such as choosing to wear long sleeves and everyone applying sunscreen together. She highlighted the importance of regular checks and early diagnosis, acknowledging her own luck in having both cancers detected early.
The left-arm quick is currently representing Australia A in the series against the visiting India A. She is also set to compete in the highly anticipated WBBL season for the Sydney Sixers, aiming to perform strongly and earn her way back into Australia’s national squad.
(Quotes sourced from cricket.com.au)
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