The 26-year-old took to Instagram on Tuesday to share a photo of a scar on her arm and urged others to get themselves checked. 

"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," she wrote.

"I know everyone leads busy lives, but it was a timely reminder for me that we need to look after our health. An hour out of your day once or twice a year is all it takes."

The melanoma developed in a mole that she had my whole life.

Campbell has been praised for showing awareness of skin cancer. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Holy Moley! A friendly reminder to everyone to get their skin checked! 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🙈). - I know everyone leads busy lives, but it was a timely reminder for me that we need to look after our health. An hour out of your day once or twice a year is all it takes. - Ok, that's enough 'mothering' from me. But seriously guys, go get yourself checked out, especially now that it's hot and sunny again (hurray!). I'll be back in the pool in a week and will have a sweet scar to make me look more bad ass. #getyourskinchecked #manymoles #skincancer #chicksdigscars #holymoley

A post shared by Cate Campbell (@cate_campbell) on

Australia has one of the highest rates of melanoma in the world and it is the third most common type of cancer in both men and women.

Campbell is set to return to the pool in a week.