Sarah Ferguson has urged people not to skip their health check-ups after being diagnosed with two types of cancer in a six-month period.

The Duchess of York revealed she was diagnosed with skin cancer in January, having been told she had an early form of breast cancer in the summer.

The 64-year-old has spoken about the importance of check-ups to mark Cancer Prevention Action Week, warning “days could make the difference between life and death”.

In an Instagram post on Tuesday, she said: “Days could make the difference between life and death, so please don’t skip or put off your #healthchecks and urge your loved ones to go to theirs.

“I’m determined to do whatever I can to help raise awareness by sharing my experience.

“I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 and melanoma, an aggressive form of skin cancer, this year and had it not been for the diligence and care of my physicians, my situation could have been so much worse.

“It was a busy 2023 and I almost put off my routine mammogram, but my sister Jane convinced me to go. After undergoing a mastectomy and reconstruction, I could only hope that I was in the clear, which is why a new diagnosis of skin cancer came as a shock.

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“I’m now in the best hands and feeling positive with the support of my family.”

Her comments come as the King continues receiving regular treatment for an undisclosed cancer, which was discovered while he was in hospital for a procedure on an enlarged prostate.

Last year, the former wife of Prince Andrew underwent an eight-hour single mastectomy operation and reconstruction after discovering she had an early form of breast cancer during a routine mammogram.

In a TV interview in December, she said she was “proud” of her mastectomy and described it as a “badge of office”.

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The NHS reported a surge of 741% in the number of people viewing its website for information about melanoma skin cancer over the two days following the Duchess of York’s diagnosis announcement in January.

The health service said its online page about the disease was being visited once every 13 seconds.

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