Champion swimmer Susie Maroney is battling cancer.

The 41-year-old mother-of-three has been diagnosed with malignant melanoma.

Maroney told New Idea that she became concerned about a mole on her back and visited a GP who then referred her to a skin specialist three weeks ago.

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The mole was removed and a biopsy confirmed the presence of a malignant nodular melanoma.

Maroney is scheduled for surgery at Sydney’s Kareena Private Hospital. A nine centimetre long incision is required to remove the malignant melanoma.

“Hopefully, they will get all the melanoma out,” she told the Australian magazine.

“If they don’t, I will have to have further tests and scans to see if it has spread anywhere else in my body.”

Maroney is the primary carer of her children Paris, 7, Capri, 5, and River, 3.

“They’re so young and they need me,” said the marathon swimming champion.

“I was crying when I heard those words, because this is something you can die from,” she said.

Maroney’s partner is former rugby player Perry Cross.