NTD
A member of the UK royal family was diagnosed with a form of cancer during treatment for breast cancer, she confirmed.
Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, was diagnosed with malignant melanoma after several moles were removed while she was undergoing reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy, her representative told multiple news outlets. It’s not clear if it was caught early or not.
In an Instagram post on Monday, the duchess wrote: “I have been taking some time to myself as I have been diagnosed with malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer, my second cancer diagnosis within a year after I was diagnosed with breast cancer this summer and underwent a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery.”
“It was thanks to the great vigilance of my dermatologist that the melanoma was detected when it was,” she continued to say. “Naturally another cancer diagnosis has been a shock but I’m in good spirits and grateful for the many messages of love and support. I believe my experience underlines the importance of checking the size, shape, color and texture and emergence of new moles that can be a sign of melanoma and urge anyone who is reading this to be diligent.”
The 64-year-old royal, known sometimes as “Fergie” in the UK press, is the former wife of Prince Andrew and the mother of Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice. Other details about her condition were not provided.
“The Duchess wants to thank the entire medical team which has supported her, particularly her dermatologist whose vigilance ensured the illness was detected when it was,” her representative told news outlets. “She believes her experience underlines the importance of checking the size, shape, color and texture and emergence of new moles that can be a sign of melanoma.”
She is currently getting treatment for her skin cancer in London and is recuperating at a medical resort in Australia, the representative said.
“She is undergoing further investigations to ensure that this has been caught in the early stages,” the spokesperson added. “Clearly, another diagnosis so soon after treatment for breast cancer has been distressing, but the Duchess remains in good spirits.”
According to the American Cancer Society, melanoma is less common than other forms of skin cancer, but it is considered more dangerous because it has a higher chance of spreading to the rest of the body if it isn’t treated early.
Last year, Sarah was diagnosed with a form of breast cancer, according to her spokesperson at the time. “Sarah, Duchess of York was recently diagnosed with an early form of breast cancer detected at a routine mammogram screening. She was advised she needed to undergo surgery, which has taken place successfully,” they said at the time.
On social media around New Year’s Eve, the duchess revealed in a post that she “beat breast cancer.”
