Experts proposed that there may be a genetic link between melanoma and breast cancer in light of the recent diagnoses of Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, according to an article published in CBS News. In a January 2024 social media post, Ms. Ferguson revealed that her physicians diagnosed her with melanoma—just months after she was treated for breast cancer in the summer of 2023. Her skin cancer was identified during her breast reconstruction surgery, in which skin or muscle is taken from other parts of the body. The experts stressed that many patients with cancer may receive multiple cancer diagnoses. Further, those with lighter skin tones, red hair, and freckles may be at greater risk of developing sun exposure–related melanoma. Although Ms. Ferguson did not state which type of breast cancer she had been treated for, the experts emphasized that patients with BRCA mutations may be susceptible to melanoma. The Duchess advised all individuals to remain up to date on their cancer screenings. “I am incredibly thankful to the medical teams that have supported me through both of these experiences with cancer,” Ms. Ferguson concluded.
February 07, 2024