British Model Danielle Lloyd Reveals Skin Cancer Diagnosis; Lists Early Signs of Melanoma

Former British model Danielle Lloyd took to social media to reveal she has been diagnosed with skin cancer. The 41-year-old mother of five, in a visibly shaken appearance on Instagram, expressed her shock at receiving the diagnosis and revealed that she would undergo surgery to determine if the cancer had spread.

Lloyd also raised awareness about the importance of monitoring skin changes and seeking medical attention if anything unusual is noticed. Her emotional video urged: "I don't really know how to say this and I didn't know whether to come on and say this but I just feel like I have to raise awareness about this happening to other people. Today I have been diagnosed with a form of skin cancer.

Experts have warned that skin cancer cases have seen an uptick across the world, with millions diagnosed every year. Doctors urge people to not ignore early signs of melanoma—a disease in which malignant cells form in melanocytes—cells that colour your skin. While melanoma can occur anywhere on the skin, experts say unusual moles, exposure to sunlight, and health history can affect the risk of this cancer.

According to doctors, the first signs of melanoma include an unevenly shaped mole, which looks like brown or tan spots on the skin. In the UK, the Skin Cancer Foundation has also asked people to watch for ugly ducklings—moles that look very different from the rest of your regular ones.

"This recognition strategy is based on the concept that most normal moles on your body resemble one another, while melanomas stand out like ugly ducklings in comparison," said the charity.

Another symptom is colour-related; while normal moles will usually remain one colour, dangerous ones gradually change. Healthy moles can range in shades from dark or light brown to light pinkish.

Doctors also say that the size of cancerous moles is a big indicator, as usually they will be bigger than a pencil eraser, or six millimeters. Catching melanoma as it first develops is the best way to prevent further risk, with 99 per cent of the patients surviving five years or more after early diagnosis.

According to doctors, melanoma—which means black tumour—is the most dangerous type of skin cancer. It grows quickly and has the ability to spread to any organ. It comes from the skin cells known as melanocytes, which are responsible for producing melanin, the dark pigment that gives skin its colour.

Around 30 per cent of melanomas begin in existing moles, but the rest start in normal skin. This makes it especially important to pay attention to changes in your skin because the majority of melanomas don't start as moles.

Doctors say knowing your risk can help you be extra vigilant in watching changes in your skin and seeking skin examinations.

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