The duchess, Sarah Ferguson, shared her “shock” at being diagnosed with malignant melanoma in an Instagram post. Despite the news she said she is in “good spirits”.
The melanoma was discovered during the removal of a cancerous mole during treatment for breast cancer, as she had several moles removed and analysed while having reconstructive surgery.
It was her second cancer diagnosis within a year after being diagnosed with breast cancer last summer.
She’s also the third royal to announce a medical procedure in the space of a week.
On Wednesday 17 January, Kensington palace announced Kate, Princess of Wales had been admitted to hospital for planned abdominal surgery.
The same day it was revealed King Charles will be admitted to hospital this week to be treated for an enlarged prostate.
So what is malignant melanoma?
Melanoma is the deadliest of skin cancers because it can spread to other areas of the body. The main cause is ultraviolet lights (UV), which comes from the sun and sunbeds.
A new mole or a change in an existing mole can be signs of melanoma, says the NHS.
Doctors use a checklist known as the ABCDE which explains some of the signs of melanoma to look out for:
A – asymmetrical
Melanomas are likely to have an uneven shape.
B – border
Melanomas are more likely to have irregular edges that might be blurred or jagged.
C – colour
Melanomas are often an uneven colour and contain more than one shade.
D – diameter
Most melanomas are more than 6mm wide.
E – evolving
Melanomas might change in size, shape or colour. They may also become swollen and sore, start bleeding, become itchy and/or crusty.
Melanomas might change in size, shape or colour. They may also become swollen and sore, start bleeding, become itchy and/or crusty.
They can appear anywhere on your body, but they’re more common in areas often exposed to the sun.
And they’re considered so deadly because they can grow very quickly. They can become life-threatening in as little as six weeks.
What are other common skin cancers?
Non-melanoma skin cancers develop in the outermost layer of skin, known as the epidermis
The two most common types of non-melanoma skin cancer are basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common form of skin cancer worldwide
Again, the most common cause is exposure to UV from the sun or sunbeds.
BCCs can vary greatly in their appearance, says the British Skin Foundation, but people often first become aware of them as a scab that bleeds and doesn’t heal completely or a new red or pearly lump on the skin.
It adds: “Some BCCs are superficial and look like a scaly red flat mark on the skin.
“Others form a lump and have a pearl-like rim surrounding a central crater and there may be small red blood vessels present across the surface.
“If left untreated, BCCs can eventually cause an ulcer; hence the name ‘rodent ulcer’. Most BCCs are painless, although sometimes they can be itchy or bleed if caught.”
In almost every case, BCCs can be cured. They rarely spread to other parts of the body.
Squamous cell carcinoma
Like BCC, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is slow growing and has the potential to spread to other organs if it’s left untreated for a long time.
Most people with SCC can be completely cured with simple treatment.
There’s strong evidence to suggest it’s caused by UV rays. Other less common causes are radiation therapy, trauma, chemicals and viruses.
The NHS says SCC appears as a firm pink lump with a rough or crusted surface.
It adds: “There can be a lot of surface scale and sometimes even a spiky horn sticking up from the surface.
“The lump is often tender to touch, bleeds easily and may develop into an ulcer.”
Bowen’s disease is a precancerous form of SCC. It most commonly affects elderly women and is found on the lower leg, and the main sign is a red, scaly patch on the skin that may itch.
It’s not classed as a non-melanoma skin cancer, but can sometimes develop into SCC if left untreated.
Check your skin and moles regularly for any changes. If you notice symptoms of skin cancer, see your GP.
