Sarah Ferguson Diagnosed With Another Form Of Cancer After Mastectomy Surgery

The Duke of York, Prince Andrew's ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, has been diagnosed with skin cancer.

According to reports, her health challenge is a malignant form of melanoma, and further investigation is required to know if it was caught early.

Ferguson previously underwent a mastectomy to deal with breast cancer after she was diagnosed last year.

According to US Weekly, Sarah Ferguson is facing another health issue, one of many she has faced in recent times.

The Duchess of York has been diagnosed with malignant melanoma, a kind of skin cancer that starts in the melanocytes. This was found while she was undergoing reconstructive surgery after a mastectomy to deal with her earlier breast cancer issue.

"Following her diagnosis with an early form of breast cancer this summer, Sarah, Duchess of York, has now been diagnosed with malignant melanoma," a rep for Ferguson told the publication.

The rep added, "Her dermatologist asked that several moles be removed and analyzed at the same time as the Duchess was undergoing reconstructive surgery following her mastectomy, and one of these has been identified as cancerous."

According to research, about 25% of melanoma comes from moles, and Ferguson's situation aligns with this category. While the precise cause of all melanomas remains unclear, factors such as exposure to ultraviolet light and genetic influences are considered contributing elements.

As to the next steps to be taken, the rep for the duchess revealed that her team of doctors would do "further investigation" into the diagnosis.

This would help ascertain if the melanoma was "caught in the early stages," as the chances of the illness being treated successfully will be high.

In the meantime, although Ferguson is "distressed" by the news, she remains "in good spirits" as she recuperates in the MAYRLIFE clinic in Austria. She is also appreciative of her doctors and wants her experience to serve as a lesson for others.

"The Duchess wants to thank the entire medical team [who] has supported her, particularly her dermatologist, whose vigilance ensured the illness was detected when it was," Ferguson's rep informed the publication.

"She believes her experience underlines the importance of checking the size, shape, color, and texture, and the emergence of new moles that can be a sign of melanoma."

Back in June, Ferguson was diagnosed with an early form of breast cancer after she went for a routine mammogram screening.

She had nearly postponed her annual mammogram at the time, but her sister, Jane, insisted on it. Ultimately, having the breast cancer discovered turned Ferguson into an advocate for routine cancer screenings. She once spoke about it during an episode of her podcast, "Tea Talks with the Duchess and Sarah," which she cohosts with entrepreneur Sarah Thomson.

"It's very important that I speak about it," Fergie told her podcast listeners at the time, per US Weekly. "I am telling people out there because I want every single person that is listening to this podcast to go get checked. Go get screened and go do it."

Ferguson is one of the many celebrities who have spoken about their battles with breast cancer, such as Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Cynthia Nixon, Linda Evangelista, Katie Couric, Christina Applegate, and Wanda Sykes.

Apart from Ferguson, two other royal family members have also faced health challenges in recent weeks, per the BBC.

King Charles was recently diagnosed with an enlarged prostate, a condition common in older men but not cancerous. According to a statement from Buckingham Palace, the monarch would undergo a "corrective procedure" to deal with the health issue, after which his  "engagements will be postponed for a short period of recuperation."

Additionally, Princess Kate, wife of heir apparent Prince Willams, was also recently admitted for abdominal surgery. It is unclear what the surgery dealt with, apart from the fact that it is not cancer-related and that it required Kate to stay back in the hospital for 10-14 days.

When she leaves the hospital, Kate is not expected to resume her royal duties until after Easter. The Prince of Wales would also only carry out his responsibilities once his wife gets discharged and settled at home.