‘s Sue Nicholls was alerted to a potentially dangerous mole by a vigilant viewer of the ITV soap.
The 81-year-old actress, who plays Audrey Roberts on the long-running series, received a diagnosis of after the concerned fan reached out.
The viewer, dermatology specialist nurse Anna Bianconi-Moore, noticed the “irregular” shape of the mole on Sue’s shoulder during a scene where she wore a nightgown and promptly contacted ITV.
Recalling her concern, Anna previously told the Daily Mail: “I noticed it was irregular in shape and had at least three different colours”.
She added: “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.”
Sue Nicholls was once approached by a Coronation Street viewer over a mole spotted on her shoulder (Image: ITV)
Anna wrote to Sue suggesting she see a specialist about the “sinister-looking lesion”, warning that it may “require urgent attention”.
In a miraculous twist of fate, an ITV episode led to a life-saving intervention for actress Sue in 2011, as skin care nurse Anna spotted a suspicious mole on screen and recognized it as potentially malignant.
The statement from ITV detailed the extraordinary circumstances: “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,” reported .
“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.”
Sue then appealed for the viewer to get back in touch. The chance meeting between Sue and Anna on the set saw Sue thanking her in person for the potentially life-saving observation.
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Sue Nicholls had her mole removed (Image: ITV)
Utilising the Ugly Duckling technique, which identifies moles that appear distinct compared to others, Anna had made her initial assessment.
She also mentioned the ABCDE method, which is something is used to help identify the warning signs of melanoma, an aggressive type of skin cancer
Describing the severity of the situation, The Skin Cancer Foundation labeled melanoma as “dangerous” and “serious”. These cancerous cells, originating from melanocytes, can metastasise rapidly unless detected early on.
The appearance of melanomas can be diverse, presenting various shapes, sizes, and colors. The British Skin Foundation points to skin cancer as the most prevalent cancer in the UK, with over 100,000 cases diagnosed annually and a resulting 2,500 deaths each year.
You can on the Cancer Research UK website.
The first thing to note is that if you notice a change in any mole, freckle or normal patch of skin, it is important to get it seen.