Sarah Ferguson has been diagnosed with “the worst” form of skin cancer — but is sticking to her motto of “onwards and upwards,” friends told Page Six.
The Duchess of York, 64, is back home with her daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, by her side after recuperating at the famous Mayrlife spa in Austria.
Hers is the latest health scare for the royal family in just one week. Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, is still in the hospital recovering from major abdominal surgery, while King Charles will this week undergo treatment for an inflamed prostate.
A friend told us that although Ferguson had the malignant melanoma cut out, she is waiting for test results to see what further treatment she may need.
This could include having more surgical treatment to ensure all the cancer margins are removed.
Last year, the former renegade royal — who was welcomed back to the royal family fold over Christmas by King Charles — was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery.
Keeping her trademark sense of humor, she revealed on her podcast that she had nicknamed her reconstructed left breast “Derek,” adding: “he’s very important because he saved my life.”
The Duchess. nicknamed Fergie, had multiple moles removed and analyzed by dermatologists during the reconstructive surgery and one was found to be cancerous.
“The Duchess is back home and resting,” said a friend. “This is the worst form of skin cancer you can get.
“But she always says, ‘onwards and upwards,’” the friend added. “When the duchess was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was very struck by the number of people who responded and were prompted to get a mammogram. I have no doubt that she will want to ensure that people get their skin checked out.”
Ferguson is now back at Royal Lodge, the Windsor home she shares with her disgraced ex-husband, Prince Andrew, and wrote online Monday: “It was thanks to the great vigilance of my dermatologist that the melanoma was detected when it was.
“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 added: “I believe my experience underlines the importance of checking the size, shape, color and texture and emergence of new moles that can be a sign of melanoma and urge anyone who is reading this to be diligent.”
She posted a photo from the Mayrlife Medical Health Resort, which counts the likes of Suki Waterhouse, Naomi Campbell, Karlie Kloss and Rebel Wilson among its clientele.
Speaking about her cancer battle, the “Her Heart for a Compass” author said on her podcast, “Tea Talks with the Duchess and Sarah”: “When I look back, you know, I was OK … I got good legs and look good, and I didn’t like myself, and that was because, I think, you know, I was always compared to Diana,” she admitted, referencing her late former sister-in-law, Princess Diana.
Ferguson also described her surgery as a “waking up” moment to “stop self-hatred.”
“[It took] a body part to be cut off to wake up and stop worrying, stop self-hatred, stop self-doubt, stop all these things. Stop not liking yourself,” she added.
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