Dayanara Torres Has Been Diagnosed With The Most Dangerous Form Of Skin Cancer
"PLEASE, never forget to take care of yourself," wrote Miss Universe 1993 Dayana Torres in an Instagram post early on Tuesday as she made the shocking announcement that she had been diagnosed with melanoma, which is believed to be the most dangerous form of skin cancer.
In an unanticipated announcement, the 44-year-old model, dancer, and actress revealed that she is currently waiting for her medical team's advice on how to treat her condition.
EXCLUSIVE: Stronger, Bolder, And Happier: Cathy Nazareno Goes Through Her Second Battle With Cancer
According to skincancer.org, this form of the disease is not only the least common, but also worryingly the most dangerous and results in the most deaths. It's often triggered by skin cells that rapidly produce tumors, a reaction often caused by skin cells' inability to repair themselves after repeated and prolonged exposure to the sun or tanning beds.
However, if diagnosed and treated early enough, the cancer is almost always curable. Otherwise, if detected in its later stages, the chances of it affecting other parts of the body significantly increase. Unfortunately for Dayanara, or "Yari," as most of her Filipino fans call her, she falls into the second category.
"Now we are waiting to see which treatment I will be receiving but they have already removed a big area from the back of my knee & also they have removed 2 lymph nodes at the top of my leg where it had already spread. Hoping it has not spread to any more areas or organs," she continued.
Despite the gravity of the new reality she faces, this mom of two has chosen to stay positive, even taking the time to remind her followers to never forget to take care of themselves.
"But if I can help anyone along the way based on my experience, it would be to tell you... PLEASE, never forget to take care of yourself. If you see something or feel something different in your body have it checked," she wrote.
Using herself as an example, Dayanara narrated that it was her fiancé, Marvel Studios' co-president Louis D'Esposito, who urged her to schedule a check-up when an unusual patch of raised, pigmented skin behind her knee appeared to be getting larger over time—a telltale sign of skin cancer.
Assuring her fans that she would stay strong throughout this ordeal despite the uncertainty of her fate, Dayanara called herself a "warrior of a mommy" and hung onto her faith to keep her going.
"God doesn't give the hardest battles to his tougher soldier, he creates the toughest soldiers through Life's hardest battles," she concluded.
Dayanara Torres is the latest A-lister to reveal an ongoing battle with cancer.
Other famous faces who have fought—and more importantly, survived—skin cancer are Hugh Jackman, Anderson Cooper, Khloe Kardashian, Tom Delonge, Ewan McGreggor, Diane Keaton, and Michelle Monaghan.
Photos from @dayanarapr
