Your cancer hasn’t spread, Fergie told
THE Duchess of York has been told there appears to be no spread of her skin cancer following another bout of surgery.
Sarah, 64, was told by doctors in January they had found a malignant melanoma during a second round of reconstructive surgery, following her breast cancer diagnosis last year.
It was a ‘ huge shock’ to Prince Andrew’s ex- wife although friends said she was determined to ‘bounce back’.
The Mail can reveal the duchess has undergone further surgery to examine the area around the mole that was found to be malignant, as well as her lymph nodes.
A friend said she had just learned these were all ‘free of cancer’ and doctors believe the disease has not spread. She must still be vigilant and have regular 12-week check-ups, but the news was the ‘ best possible outcome she could have hoped for’, and her prognosis is good.
The duchess’ friend said: ‘It is a huge relief for Sarah and the entire family after the most stressful time.’
Sources close to the duchess said doctors are reluctant to use the term ‘cancer free’ but there was very much cause for optimism.
The friend added: ‘She was heartened to see there was an upsurge in people checking for details of melanoma on the NHS website after she made her diagnosis public.
‘Her intention will be to get the message out about the importance of being vigilant about checking the size, shape, colour and texture of moles. If melanoma is caught early, it can be treated very effectively.’
It was during her second bout of reconstructive surgery last year that her dermatologist asked some of her moles be removed and tested, leading to her diagnosis.
Skin cancer is something that has cast a shadow over Sarah’s life. Her father, Major Ronald Ferguson, was having treatment for it shortly before he died in 2003. And in 1999 her best friend and former flatmate, Carolyn Cotterell, died at only 43, after an 18month battle with the disease.
The duchess now plans to celebrate with a trip to Australia in the coming days to see her sister and take part in Global Citizen Now in Melbourne, a summit designed to end extreme poverty around the world and focus on the climate change crisis.