Cate Campbell averts melanoma scare

Swimming world record holder Cate Campbell has revealed how she avoided a potentially deadly melanoma scare.

A month after claiming the Olympic program swimmer of the year award, Campbell detailed how she was diagnosed with stage one melanoma.

"Holy Moley! A friendly reminder to everyone to get their skin checked!" Campbell said on social media on Monday.

"Last week I finally went for a long overdue skin check (because skin checks seem to be one of those things that are always overdue) and discovered that I had a stage one melanoma.

"No need to panic, it was safely removed, but it developed in a mole that I'd had my whole life (my nickname as a kid was Many Moles)."

The revelation comes two years after fellow swimmer Mack Horton revealed how he had a mole removed at the suggestion of a fan.

Melanoma is reportedly the fourth most common cancer in Australia and claims the lives of about 1500 people each year.

Having posted a photo of a lengthy scar on her right arm, Cambell said she would return to the pool this week.

The scare caps off a successful year for the 26-year-old, who broke the world 100m freestyle short-course record this year after taking 2017 off.

Campbell won three gold medals and a silver at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and five gold at the Pan Pacific Championships.

She was recently voted Australia's sportswoman of the year.