Former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke has opened up about his long battle with skin cancer, which began in 2006. (Image credit: Instagram)

NEW DELHI: Former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke has opened up about his long battle with skin cancer, which began in 2006. Over the years, several melanomas and other cancerous spots have been removed from his face and body. Most recently, he underwent another procedure to remove a lesion from his nose and continues to visit his dermatologist for check-ups every six months.Speaking on The Kyle and Jackie O Show, Clarke shared his experiences with various treatments and surgeries for skin cancer.“I had one about four weeks ago off my nose, and I see my dermatologist every six months. The sunspots, I get frozen. Normally, if they’re basal cells, I get them cut out… I think I’ve had seven cut out of my face,” he said.In August, Clarke posted a photo on Instagram after undergoing surgery to remove a lesion from his nose, aiming to raise awareness about skin cancer. Earlier, in 2019, he had three non-melanoma lesions taken off his face.“Skin cancer is real! Especially in Australia. Another one cut out of my nose today. A friendly reminder to get your skin checked. Prevention is better than cure, but in my case, regular check-ups and early detection is key. So grateful that @drbishsoliman_ got it early,” Clarke wrote in his Instagram caption.Clarke linked his susceptibility to years of intense sun exposure during his cricketing days.“Imagine fielding all day in India, out there for eight hours in the sun, a lot of the guys are wearing the baggy green cap so you are not protecting your ears or your face. You’ve got short-sleeved shirts, so your arms and the tops of your hands (are exposed),” he explained.The former Australian skipper, who led his country to the 2015 World Cup title before retiring, enjoyed a stellar career featuring 115 Tests, 245 ODIs, and 34 T20Is, scoring over 17,000 runs across formats.