Sarah Ferguson was reportedly diagnosed with skin cancer just months after her breast cancer treatment.
The Duchess of York has had a birthmark removed from her body. Tests have now shown that it is a malignant melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer.
This comes after the 64-year-old underwent breast surgery for cancer last year. Insiders said it was “not an easy time” for them.
The mother of two reportedly had several moles removed during breast reconstruction surgery last year, one of which turned out to be malignant.
The Duchess, Prince Andrew's ex-wife, was in “good spirits” following the “disturbing” news she was told just days after Christmas.
The Duchess of York was pictured on ITV's Good Morning Britain on December 12 last year
Sarah Ferguson pictured with her ex-husband Prince Andrew and Maria Laura Salinas at Royal Ascot in June 2019
Sarah Ferguson is seen with her ex-husband Prince Andrew at the Christmas service at Sandringham last month
The author has reportedly spent the last few weeks in Austria after spending time with the royal family at Sandringham over Christmas, reports the Sun.
It is hoped the cancer was caught early enough that she will have no further problems but will undergo further tests to see if it has spread.
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can spread to other areas of the body and is primarily caused by exposure to ultraviolet light from the sun or tanning beds.
People with lighter skin, many moles and a family history of skin cancer are at higher risk of developing it.
The news comes days after it was announced that both King Charles III. and the Princess of Wales will have undergone medical procedures by this time next week.
Princess Catherine was admitted to hospital last week for abdominal surgery that will see her spend 10 to 14 days in hospital in London and up to three months of rest and recovery at home.
The reason for the surgery is unknown, but sources say the surgery is non-cancerous in nature.
On the same day that Kate had surgery, it was announced that King Charles would be receiving treatment for an enlarged prostate the next week.
The news comes days after it was revealed that King Charles and the Princess of Wales had health problems. Pictured: King Charles greets Princess Catherine at the world premiere of No Time to Die at the Royal Albert Hall in London in September 2021
Sarah Ferguson pictured with her daughters Princess Beatrice (left) and Princess Eugenie (right) at the Masterpiece Midsummer Party at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in 2013
A spokesperson for Sarah, Duchess of York told the Sun: “After being diagnosed with an early form of breast cancer this summer, Sarah, Duchess of York has now been diagnosed with malignant melanoma.”
“Her dermatologist requested that several moles be removed and analyzed while the Duchess was undergoing reconstructive surgery following her mastectomy, and one of them was identified as cancerous.”
“She is conducting further investigations to ensure this was caught in the early stages.”
“Of course, being re-diagnosed so soon after treatment for breast cancer was worrying, but the Duchess remains in good spirits.”
“The Duchess would like to thank the entire medical team who supported her, especially her dermatologist, whose vigilance ensured that the disease was detected in time.”
“She believes her experience underscores the importance of checking for size, shape, color and texture, as well as the appearance of new moles, which can be a sign of melanoma.”
The Duchess is said to be by Dr. Andrew Furness, a consultant medical oncologist at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, and Catherine Borysiewicz, a consultant dermatologist at the King Edward VII Hospital in London, the newspaper reports.
It is said that she is recovering at MAYRLIFE, a celebrity clinic in Austria.
In November, following her battle with breast cancer, the Duchess admitted she was afraid of catching the disease “somewhere else” and admitted to waking up at night in a panic.
Speaking on ITV's Loose Women, she stressed the importance of attending mammogram appointments before admitting she was worried about the future.
“And then of course the four o’clock morning syndrome sets in,” she told Christine Lampard, Coleen Nolan and Brenda Edwards in the pre-recorded one-off special.
“You know that moment when you suddenly wake up and say, 'Oh, I'm sure I have cancer somewhere else… I'm going to call my doctor now.'
“I'm getting over it, but it's only been a few months since the surgery and I'm just starting to sit up straight.”
Sarah Ferguson was diagnosed with malignant melanoma. Pictured: The Duchess of York at the Christmas service at Sandringham Church
It comes months after the Duchess went public with her battle with breast cancer, including a single mastectomy last year to beat the disease.
After having her left breast reconstructed, she even joked on morning TV that she “kind of likes them.”
With a great sense of humor, Sarah told Good Morning Britain presenters Susanna Reid and Ed Balls in December that she had named her left breast “Derek”.
Her cancer journey began in the spring when a routine pre-coronation test first discovered something was seriously wrong.
In early May, Sarah attended a mammogram appointment in London. Instead of giving the all-clear as expected, the technician explained that a “shadow” could be seen in the chest.
Given the size of the area, a lumpectomy was ruled out and Sarah was strongly advised to have a single mastectomy to eliminate the shadow of cancer cells on the breast.
Sarah said she was devastated but determined to have a mastectomy as soon as possible, telling friends she had “no choice” but to undergo the operation.
She underwent a grueling eight-hour operation at King Edward VII Hospital in June following her breast cancer diagnosis and revealed the moment she realized doctors had found something on her mammogram.
“I could see they were moving very quickly,” she said. “They said, ‘Well, we’ll just do another one,’ then ‘Oh, we’ll just do that,’ and I said, ‘No, no, but you didn’t find anything, did you? No, I'm fine, right?” “.'
“It was like a splash. It was like someone had left [gestures a splatting action] so and it was better to have it removed.'
Since the operation, Sarah has exuded a positive attitude and encourages others to get checked – especially if they are afraid.
This morning she said: “For anyone who thinks, 'I can't possibly do it' because they might find something, the sooner they find something and remove it, and whether they have to remove it, like a lumpectomy or a mastectomy or… “Whatever they need to do, it’s okay that you have that.
“And it’s okay to cry. It's okay to be afraid. It’s okay to say, ‘I’m really scared,’ but together we can be strong to get through this.”
What is melanoma?
Melanoma is the most dangerous form of skin cancer. This happens after the DNA in skin cells is damaged (typically by harmful UV rays) and is subsequently not repaired, triggering mutations that can form malignant tumors.
causes
- Sunlight: UV and UVB rays from the sun and tanning beds are harmful to the skin
- Birthmarks: The more birthmarks you have, the greater your risk of developing melanoma
- Skin type: Lighter skin has a higher risk of developing melanoma
- Hair Color: Red heads are more at risk than others
- Personal history: If you have had melanoma once, you are more likely to get it again
- Family history: If previous relatives have been diagnosed, the risk increases
Treatment
This can be done by removing the entire tumor section or by the surgeon removing the skin in layers. By removing it layer by layer, a surgeon can figure out exactly where the cancer ends so he doesn't have to remove more skin than necessary.
The patient may opt for skin grafting if the surgery has caused discoloration or a dent.
- Immunotherapy, radiation treatment or chemotherapy:
This is required when the cancer reaches stage III or IV. This means that the cancer cells have spread to the lymph nodes or other organs in the body.
prevention
- Use sunscreen and don't burn yourself
- Avoid tanning outside and in bed
- Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside
- Keep newborns out of the sun
- Examine your skin every month
- See your doctor every year for a skin exam
Source: Skin Cancer Foundation and American Cancer Society