FORMER Millwall defender Stuart Nethercott has bravely opened up on his cancer scare after the finding of a mole last summer.

The 51-year-old, who captained Millwall to the Division Two title in 2001, says he was left in a ‘blur’ after the diagnosis.

The malignant mole was excised but Nethercott then had severe health concerns after the treatment.

He obtained the all-clear in January this year and has urged others to be watchful when it comes to their health.

Nethercott told the Wall Talk podcast: “Back in June or July 2023, I was playing a few charity games. I had a massage with a physio and [he observed] the mole on my leg and inquired whether I’ve had it looked at.

“I was going ‘nah, don’t be silly, it’s just there.’ He informed me that he would get it checked, so I did it. Went through the system with the physicians, got it removed and then it’s a waiting game for the results.

“And then you’re called in and the results were cancerous. I was in the room with my wife and I was just in a blur. I was fazed, bleary-eyed, not even listening. It was one of those things where I thought ‘I’m going to fight this’.

“I went in for the operation on December 20, they done a biopsy on the area where the mole was and had an incision near my groin. It all went great. I had the operation on the Wednesday, was out by the Thursday and then back home recuperating.”

Unfortunately for Nethercott, his suffering was not finished and he was left feeling “really rough” around Christmas while was cooking the roast meal. A rash had formed near where the mole had been removed and on Boxing Day he was left with little alternative but to check himself back into hospital, where he was put on antibiotics.

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