The Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, has announced she has been diagnosed with malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer, just months after undergoing treatment for breast cancer. In an Instagram post, she said the diagnosis came as a 'shock', but she remains in 'good spirits' and is grateful for the support she has received.
The melanoma was discovered after several moles were removed and analysed while she was undergoing reconstructive surgery following a mastectomy. Her spokesman confirmed that one of the moles was identified as cancerous, and she is now undergoing further investigations to ensure it was caught early.
Ferguson, 64, was diagnosed with breast cancer last summer after a routine mammogram. She underwent a single mastectomy at King Edward VII Hospital in London and has been vocal about her experience, urging others to get checked. She used her podcast to raise awareness about breast cancer, aiming to turn her experience into a positive message to save others.
The duchess is the third royal to announce a medical procedure this week. On Wednesday, Kensington Palace confirmed that the Princess of Wales had undergone planned abdominal surgery and would remain in hospital for up to two weeks. Shortly after, Buckingham Palace announced that the King would receive treatment for a benign prostate condition.
Ferguson has shown resilience in the face of adversity, having recently returned to the UK after recuperating in Austria. She has the support of her family, including her ex-husband Prince Andrew, with whom she shares a home at Royal Lodge in Windsor. The couple have two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, and three grandchildren.
