Sarah Ferguson has encouraged people to check themselves for skin cancer after being diagnosed with malignant melanoma.
The Duchess of York was found to have the disease after having a number of moles removed. It was discovered as she was being treated for breast cancer in June.
One of the moles was found to be cancerous. Doctors are now said to be trying to establish whether the disease was caught early.
The 64-year-old is understood to be in “good spirits” while recovering at home surrounded by her family. But she has now urged people to make sure they check themselves for skin cancers.
Her spokesman said: “She believes her experience underlines the importance of checking the size, shape, colour and texture and emergence of new moles that can be a sign of melanoma.”
The Duchess is said to be “distressed” by the diagnosis. Her representative said: “Following her diagnosis with an early form of breast cancer [last] summer, Sarah, Duchess of York has now been diagnosed with malignant melanoma.
“Her dermatologist asked that several moles were removed and analysed at the same time as the Duchess was undergoing reconstructive surgery following her mastectomy, and one of these has been identified as cancerous.
“She is undergoing further investigations to ensure that this has been caught in the early stages.
“Clearly, another diagnosis so soon after treatment for breast cancer has been distressing but the Duchess remains in good spirits.”
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can spread to other areas of the body. Any diagnosis of melanoma is cancer, even if the term “malignant” is not used before it.
The NHS states that the main cause of melanoma is ultraviolet light, which comes from the Sun and is used in sunbeds. Other factors that increase the chances of getting melanoma include having pale skin; red or blonde hair; blue or green eyes; a large number of freckles or moles and a family history of skin cancer.
The risk of melanoma increases with age, but compared to most other cancer types, it is also quite common in younger people, say Cancer Research UK.
How to check for melanoma
The NHS states a new mole or a change in an existing mole may be signs of melanoma. Melanomas can appear anywhere on the body, but they are more common in areas that are often exposed to the Sun.
Some rarer types may affect the eyes, soles of the feet, palms of the hands or genitals. NHS advice states that people should check their skin for any unusual changes.
Anyone concerned should contact their GP. Then, following a referral, a dermatologist will check a patient’s skin and ask them about any changes they have noticed.
The dermatologist may also cut out the mole and a small area of surrounding skin so it can be sent to a lab and checked for cancer – this is known as an excision biopsy. The NHS says it should take about two weeks to get the results of the test back.
