Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, shares melanoma diagnosis: ‘My second cancer diagnosis within a year’

Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, says she’s been diagnosed with melanoma, marking the second time in a year that she’s facing cancer.

“I have been taking some time to myself as I have been diagnosed with malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer,” Ferguson, the ex-wife of Britain’s Prince Andrew, said in a message posted Monday on Instagram. Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer.

“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,” the 64-year-old author and former royal family member said.

“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 said.

Ferguson stressed the importance of “checking the size, shape, color and texture and emergence of new moles that can be a sign of melanoma,” saying she urged “anyone who is reading this to be diligent.”

Praising her medical teams that “have supported me through both of these experiences with cancer,” Ferguson told her more than 675,000 followers on Instagram, “I am resting with family at home now, feeling blessed to have their love and support.”

She shared her diagnosis just days after two prominent members of the royal family announced separate health issues.

Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles III will undergo a “corrective procedure” this week to treat a prostate condition, while Kensington Palace said last week that Kate, the Princess of Wales, was admitted to a London hospital for abdominal surgery.

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