Cancer scare forces Lynsey Sharp to take a break from athletics

Lynsey Sharp has revealed that a cancer scare has forced her to take a break from athletics.

Lynsey Sharp is taking a break from athletics. Picture: Getty Images

The former European champion, 29, pulled out of last weekend’s Scottish cross-country championships in Kirkcaldy.

But via Instagram, Sharp revealed she was forced to go under the knife to remove what doctors found to be cancerous cells following a routine smear test.

“The last few weeks have been a bit rough,” she posted. “Last week I had surgery to remove cells which came back today as pre-cancerous.

"A smear test, led to a biopsy which led to surgery. I have to take it easy for a few weeks but I’m getting there and...health takes precedence. If I hadn’t gone for a smear test I wouldn’t have been able to catch this before it developed any further.”