Valentina Ferragni is urging others to be diligent with skin checks after a ‘terrifying’ skin cancer diagnosis.
In 2021, the 30-year-old high fashion model from Italy scratched away what she claimed was a pimple on her forehead that had lasted for a year.
It turned out that the seemingly harmless spot was skin cancer, which the doctors immediately removed, along with a large chunk of potentially cancerous flesh underneath.
Valentina shared photos on Instagram to show what the small lump looked like, to warn others and prevent them from making the same mistake.
“Two years ago I removed a ‘pimple’ that had been under my skin for almost a year and started to change a month before I had the surgery,” she wrote.
Valentina Ferragni is the younger sister of Chiara Ferragni, 36, and the founder of fine handmade jewelry brand Valentina Ferragni Studio.
Valentina Ferragni, 30, scratched off a nasty pimple she noticed on her forehead that just wouldn’t go away
Valentina shared photos on Instagram to show what the small lump looked like to warn others
After visiting the doctor, she immediately had it removed. Two years later, she urges others to be diligent with skin checks
‘Doctors couldn’t tell what it was before the operation, and they discovered it was basal cell carcinoma, a serious skin cancer.’
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common and least dangerous form of skin cancer. It tends to grow slowly and is usually found in places exposed to sunlight.
The most deadly form is melanoma and if left untreated it can be life-threatening.
Valentina added: ‘Life changed very quickly and now I pay attention to every little detail on my skin, to every thing that could change and be something different.
‘I cannot thank enough all the doctors who have helped me during that time, and my mission for the past two years has been to spread awareness about skin cancer, one of the most dangerous but underrated forms. Please check yourself and go to the doctor.”
Although the small lump did not appear to be anything sinister to the naked eye, doctors removed a piece of Valentina’s skin.
‘I cannot thank enough all the doctors who have helped me during that time, and my mission for the past two years has been to spread awareness about skin cancer, one of the most dangerous but underrated forms. Please check yourself and go to the doctor,” she wrote
Although the small lump didn’t seem like anything sinister, doctors had to remove a piece of Valentina’s skin
After 24 hours, thousands of people flooded the comments to share their own cancer concerns.
‘I found a melanoma on my mother’s back. She went to the doctor to prove me wrong and it saved her life,” one woman commented.
‘Basal cell carcinoma is the best option you can get when we talk about tumors. It is the most common skin cancer,” said another.
This year alone, it is estimated that more than 18,200 people were diagnosed with melanoma in Australia, with an average age of diagnosis of 65 years.
Australia also has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world due to harsh UV rays.
For the best protection, it is recommended to wear a hat, use sunscreen SPF 30 or higher, wear clothing that covers the skin as much as possible, seek shade and wear glasses when in the sun.
Adults can choose to have an annual skin check.
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