24 July 2023 , 11:30
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Carol Vorderman has revealed her terrifying cancer scare after her mum, Jean, was diagnosed with melanoma before she died.
The presenter, 62, opened up about her experience as she advised everyone to get their skin checked and stay safe in the sun.
Explaining she had sought advice from a dermatologist after spotting some 'irregularities' on her skin, she told a Boots Soltan representative: "When I got to my late forties, I could see there were little bits on my skin which were irregular so I went to a dermatologist.
"[I had] a biopsy and a couple of them were pre-cancerous… it was very frightening.
Carol Vorderman's mum, Jean, sadly died in 2017 (Internet Unknown)"Then my mum, her last cancer was melanoma. With what I’ve gone through, protecting my skin, then my mum with the melanoma then dying, it’s really important to me and my family [to support] what Boots are doing to help customers to keep safe in the sun."
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Boots Soltan has teamed up with Macmillan Cancer Support for a second year to train thousands of in-store staff to become Sun Safety Advisors.
Carol paid an emotional tribute to her mum last year, telling her followers how much she missed her following Jean's death in 2017.
Sharing a heartwarming family photo in which Jean is smiling broadly sporting a fabulous yellow frock, Carol wrote: "Mothers Day 2017. Mum had been diagnosed with terminal cancer a week before.
"So I got a beautiful room in @ivycliftonbrass for all of us to celebrate her. Mum had lived with me & worked for me since the 1980s. 24/7 it was always us. She died 2 months after this photo.
"Whenever I moved she moved with us, when I was married, divorced, whatever. When I had the children Nana was part of our team all day, every day. We were a pack of 4. Me mum Katie and Cam."
Carol admitted her mum's death hit her hard, but shared she was able to find solace in presenting the Mirror's Pride of Britain Awards, which she's hosted since 1999.
Speaking about the strength the annual event gave her, she said: "Whenever I feel a little dip, I think of last year’s incredible Pride of Britain winners.
"Remembering their kindness, bravery, humour and modesty lifts me again.
"Then, instead of feeling weepy, I feel lucky to have had Mum until she was nearly 89. I think of our lovely, funny times instead of the pain of losing her."
Jean, who brought her three children up alone, battled cancer three times before her terminal diagnosis.
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Paying tribute to her proud parent for everything she had done for her – including getting her the Countdown gig – Carol took to Instagram, writing: "Mum lived with me from the 1980s, through my marriage, divorce, wherever we moved.
"In 1982 we'd moved to Leeds together. She wrote my application letter to Countdown and forged my signature and then told me what she'd done."