Coronation Street star Sue Nicholls – who has played Audrey Roberts for decades – was once contacted by a viewer who had spotted a suspiciously shaped mole on her shoulder
Veteran Coronation Street cast member Sue Nicholls was approached by a viewer of ITV soap who shared concern over a mole on her skin that turned out to be cancerous.
The actor, now 81 – known for her role as Audrey Roberts – had the diagnosis of a malignant melanoma confirmed in 2011, less than a year after the viewer got in touch with her. Sue had been urged to by the fan to get the mole on her shoulder checked out after it had been spotted in a scene.
Dermatology specialist nurse Anna Bianconi-Moore later shared that she had noticed the “irregular” shape of the mole when Sue wore a night gown. She then reached out to ITV with a message of concern for the cast member.
Sue – who continues to appear on Corrie, having featured in scenes for on-screen daughter Helen Worth ‘s departure from the show this week – sought medical attention. The two women later ended up meeting on the set of the show.
Speaking to the Daily Mail in 2012, Anna, then 55, said: “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.”
Anna recalled writing that she had observed a “sinister-looking lesion” and suggested that Sue see a specialist. She told the outlet that she had warned “sooner rather than later,” as the mole may “require urgent attention”.
As previously reported, after Sue took action, and discovered that the mole had turned into melanoma, ITV shared a statement. 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.”
Anna – who let met Sue on the set of Corrie so she could be personally thanked – is said to have used the Ugly Duckling method when it came to detecting the mole. The method is about looking for a mole that stands out and looks different to the others on a person’s body. There is also the ABCDE method.
The Skin Cancer Foundation describes melanoma as a “dangerous” and “serious” form of skin cancer. It starts as cells known as melanocytes but have the ability to spread to other organs if not caught quickly.
Melanomas can come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colours. According to the British Skin Foundation, skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK. At least 100,000 new cases are diagnosed every year and it kills 2,500 people each year.
The Macmillan Support Line offers confidential support to people living with cancer and their loved ones. If you need to talk, call us on 0808 808 0000.
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