Duchess of York Diagnosed with Malignant Melanoma

Sarah Ferguson undergoing treatment for aggressive skin cancer following removal of cancerous mole during breast cancer treatment.

Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, has been diagnosed with malignant melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer, following the removal of a cancerous mole during treatment for breast cancer.
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can spread to other areas of the body. The main cause of melanoma is ultraviolet light, which comes from the Sun and is used in sunbeds.
Other factors that increase the chances of getting melanoma include having pale skin; red or blonde hair; blue or green eyes; a large number of freckles or moles and a family history of skin cancer.
Melanoma can often be treated, with several types of surgery used. Surgery may include: removing the melanoma and an area of healthy skin around it – helping lower the chances of it coming back; removing swollen lymph glands if the cancer has spread to them; removing melanoma that has spread to other areas of the body.
Radiotherapy, medicines and chemotherapy are also sometimes used as treatments. The specific treatment depends on the location of the cancer, if it has spread and the general health of the patient.