Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York and ex-wife of Prince Andrew, also known as Fergie, has been diagnosed with skin cancer only several months into her recovery from battling breast cancer.
The malignant melanoma diagnosis was given to her by a dermatologist as they were removing and analyzing several moles that Ferguson had while she was undergoing reconstructive surgery after her mastectomy, according to her spokesperson. One of the moles was identified as cancerous.
About a month ago, Ferguson was celebrating her remission from breast cancer by posting a New Year’s Eve post to Instagram, in which she expressed her pride and joy in beating the disease.
“I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I beat breast cancer and now I have got a Derek on my left. I have a new grandchild!!! I have had the pleasure of meeting some very inspiring people from around the world with beautiful stories to tell. I have discovered within myself that I, too, have more stories to tell. I am 64 and just getting started.” The post read.
Melanoma is a form of skin cancer that accounts for one percent of all diagnosed skin cancers in the United States, and makes up about four percent of all new cancer cases in the UK where Melanoma rates are reportedly on the rise, according to the charity Cancer Research U.K..
Other senior members of the royal family have also encountered health issues- as King Charles III is having a “corrective procedure” for an enlarged prostate this week, according to the palace, and Catherine, the Princess of Wales and Prince William’s wife, is taking a hiatus from public duties while she recovers from abdominal surgery.
On Monday, Ferguson shared another Instagram post in which she expressed her feelings about the diagnosis: “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.”
“Naturally another cancer diagnosis has been a shock but I’m in good spirits and grateful for the many messages of love and support,” she added. Ferguson went on to stress the importance of maintaining an awareness of one’s body to make sure they don’t have the same illness, “I believe my experience underlines the importance of checking the size, shape, colour, and texture and emergence of new moles that can be a sign of melanoma and urge anyone who is reading this to be diligent.”
She proceeded to end the post on a positive note by thanking the medical team at MAYRLIFE Clinic for taking care of her and claiming she is now resting at home with her family, “feeling blessed to have their love and support.”
