Coronation Street: Sue Nicholls says she 'doesn't want to leave'
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When character Audrey was involved in a love triangle on the fictitious street alongside Claudia (Rula Lenska) and Lewis Archer (Nigel Havers), beady-eyed viewer of the ITV soap, Anna Bianconi-Moore noticed something worrying whilst the actress was sitting in a bed. Immediately she contacted the show and ultimately saved Sue from a fatal condition.
What Anna noticed was an odd looking mole on the actress’s shoulder. The irregular shape and dappled look of the mole caught her immediate attention.
Talking to the Daily Mail Anna said: “I noticed it was irregular in shape and had at least three different colours.
“These are two of the red-flag signals that distinguish the most deadly form of skin cancer – malignant melanoma. I was obviously incredibly worried for Sue, and felt I needed to do something.”
After hearing Anna’s concerns, Sue was referred to a skin cancer specialist and consultant plastic surgeon, who then decided it should be removed.
Anna continued to say: “I wrote that I had observed a sinister-looking lesion and suggested that Sue should see a specialist, sooner rather than later, as it may require urgent attention.”
After the removal Sue’s mole was sent for testing and a week later she received a call to confirm that it had turned into melanoma.
Anna’s keen eye was helped by the fact that during the day she works as a nurse at the dermatology clinic at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.
At the time, ITV released a statement about the incredible sharpness of Anna and the effect this had on actress Sue.
It read: “Whilst millions watched the same scene in their living rooms at home, specialist skin care nurse Anna was able to diagnose the blemish as malignant melanoma after pausing the TV and taking a closer look.
“The 55 year old who’s from Suffolk then got in touch with the show to warn Sue to get the mole checked.
“In the end, almost a year passed before Sue had the mole removed and the diagnosis of malignant melanoma was confirmed. The actress then appealed for the viewer to get back in touch.
“The two finally met on the Coronation Street set at the end of May so Sue could thank her in person – for potentially saving her life.”
According to the British Skin Foundation skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK, with at least 100,000 new cases diagnosed each year. The disease kills over 2,500 people each year – that’s seven people every day.
Finding melanoma at an early stage is crucial and can save your life. The NHS states that the first sign is a change in the appearance of a new or existing mole.
In most cases, melanomas have an irregular shape and are more than one colour.
The mole may also be larger than normal and can sometimes be itchy or bleed. It is important to look out for a mole that gradually changes shape, size or colour.
There is also a type of skin cancer that is less commonly known as non-melanoma and refers to a group of cancers that slowly develop in the upper layers of the skin.
Areas exposed to sun such as the face, ears, hands and shoulders are often most at risk of both melanoma and non-melanoma.
If the cancer is caught early enough then it can be treated successfully with surgery. If it is not diagnosed until an advanced stage treatment is then used to slow the spread of the cancer and reduce symptoms.
If you notice any skin irregularities seek medical advice immediately, further tests will hen reveal whether more treatment is needed.
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