Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, has announced a melanoma skin cancer diagnosis just six months after undergoing surgery for breast cancer.
In an Instagram statement, Sarah shared her second cancer scare and emphasized the importance of vigilance and regular mole checks.
Sarah Ferguson Melanoma
The Duchess said she is in “good spirits” but the diagnosis came as a shock after her summer breast cancer operation.
Her dermatologist detected the melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer.
Sarah will undergo further tests to see if the cancer has spread but there is hope the mole was found early enough.
Sarah thanked her medical teams and highlighted Princess Beatrice’s work as patron of the British Skin Foundation.
Last June, Sarah underwent successful surgery after a routine mammogram caught her breast cancer early.
She urged others to be diligent about changes to the size, shape, color, and texture of their moles as a melanoma warning sign.
Regular self-checks and screenings can aid early detection and save lives.
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Melanoma skin cancer
Melanoma is a type of cancer that originates in melanocytes, cells that produce melanin.
Also known as malignant melanoma, these tumors are usually brown or black due to melanin production.
They can develop on any part of the skin, being more common on the trunk in men and legs in women.
Although dark skin pigmentation reduces the risk in common locations, melanoma can appear in less typical areas.
Although less common than other skin cancers, melanoma is more dangerous because of its rapid growth and greater likelihood of spreading if not detected and treated early.
Signs and symptoms of melanoma
The most important sign of melanoma is a new mole on the skin or an existing mole that has changed in size, shape, or color.
Another important sign is a mole that looks different from others on your skin.
The ABCDE rule is another method of identifying the usual signs of melanoma.
According to the American Cancer Society, other warning signs are:
- A sore or ulceration that does not heal.
- Spread of pigment from the edge of a spot into the surrounding skin.
- Redness or new swelling beyond the edge of the mole.
- Change in sensation (itching, pain on palpation, or soreness)
- Change in the surface of a mole (scaling, oozing, bleeding, or the appearance of a bump or nodule)