The mum-of-two explained that she had been diligent with getting her skin checked annually over the past decade, but missed an appointment after the birth of her daughter two years ago.
“When Gigi was born I missed a year but I didn’t even think about it. Then when I went and got checked about a month ago I had so many dark moles on my body,” she told the publication.
“(The doctor) sent it off to a biopsy and a week later I got a call asking me to sit down. My gut just dropped and then he said we have found skin cancer. I just sat and cried in front of my kids.”
Rachael has since been under the knife to remove the cancerous lump but has been told she must be diligent with sun safety going forward.
“I can’t go outside from 10 am to 4 pm… we live in Coogee and we always go out. I took that really hard because you enjoy your kids outside and enjoy where we live. I can only go out in long sleeves, wide brim hat,” she said.
“It can’t even be a linen shirt, it has to be proper UV protected clothing.”
Due to the anxiety and stress the diagnosis has caused her, Rachael stayed indoors for weeks following her surgery.
“If I missed the check another six month it could have been really bad,” she said. “I know people in my age who have never gotten their skin checked.
Rachael added that she has about 200 dark freckles and now has to get a skin check every three months for the rest of her life. The standard for Australian adults is 50 to 70.
New research from life insurer TAL shows that 22 per cent of the population never check their skin themselves, while 50 per of those with darker skin tones incorrectly believe they are less likely to get skin cancer.
In addition, more than half of NSW residents surveyed said they would take measures to protect themselves from the sun, although only one in three had undergone a skin check in the past 12 months.
Braith and Rachael announced their engagement via Instagram back in August.
The former footballer uploaded an adorable video of the moment he popped the question to Rachael – with a little help from the couple’s three children. Along with Gigi, Braith also has daughter, Aleeia, with ex-wife Jodi Gordon, while Rachael has son, Addison, from a previous relationship.
The video began with the brunette beauty walking into the couple’s garden in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs whilst Extreme’s More Than Words played in the background.
The camera then swung around to reveal Braith and the kids standing in front of balloons wearing t-shirts with the words “Will you marry me” emblazoned on the front.
