Sarah Ferguson in "good spirits" after skin cancer diagnosis

Sarah Ferguson has shared a shocking update on her health. The Duchess of York has been diagnosed with skin cancer. 

The 64-year-old's health scare comes less than a year after she underwent a mastectomy to treat breast cancer. 

"Following her diagnosis with an early form of breast cancer this summer, Sarah... has now been diagnosed with malignant melanoma," a spokesperson for the 64-year-old told the media. 

Malignant melanoma is considered one of the most aggressive and serious forms of skin cancer. 

Sarah, who was previously married to Prince Andrew, first discovered she had breast cancer during a routine mammogram. 

She opened up about her breast cancer diagnosis in a June 2023 episode of her podcast, 'Tea Talks with the Duchess and Sarah'. 

"I’m going in for a mastectomy. It's very important that I speak about it... I want every single person that is listening to this podcast to go get checked, go get screened, and go do it,” the Duchess said. 

Sarah's single mastectomy and reconstructive surgery were successful, however, doctors soon made an alarming discovery. 

"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," her spokesperson said, according to the Daily Mail. 

Further investigations are underway to see if her skin cancer "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," Sarah's spokesperson said. 

ALSO READ: KZN toddler hoping for lifesaving cancer treatment

Skin cancer symptoms 

According to Mayo Clinic, melanoma "is a kind of skin cancer that starts in the melanocytes. Melanocytes are cells that make the pigment that gives skin its color". 

The nonprofit organisation added, "The first melanoma signs and symptoms often are a change in an existing mole; the development of a new pigmented or unusual-looking growth on the skin." 

However, melanoma - which is believed to be caused by UV light exposure from the sun - can develop without the presence of a mole. 

Visit the Cancer Association of South Africa website to find out where you can go to get a cancer screening. 

ALSO READ: Carmen: "Every man and woman should know these signs for breast cancer"

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Main image credit: Instagram/@sarahferguson15