Tamra Judge, star of The Real Housewives of California, has urged people to get their skin checked after being diagnosed with cancer.
Tamra, who is a mum-of-four, took to Instagram to share the update – posting a selfie which included the cancerous ‘freckle’ on her bottom.
The reality star is a fitness fanatic and, at the age of 49, she was excited at the prospect of doing fitness competitions again.
However, a spanner was thrown in the works when what she presumed was a harmless freckle turned out to be melanoma.
“It looks like God has a different plan for me. I’m showing you this picture because this is what melanoma looks like,” she wrote.
“I don’t want sympathy, I want you to save YOUR ass and get your skin checked.
“This was just a small, black, flat freckle…I had no idea!”
While Tamra admitted that she is naturally ‘a little sad, worried and pissed off’, she is taking some comfort from the fact that her illness was caught early on.
Tamra’s Instagram post was flooded with messages of love and support, as well as similar messages of awareness from her followers.
“Melanoma spreads quickly and hits hard. Being proactive, as I see by all your biopsies, gives you the fighting chance in this disease,” wrote one fan.
“Prayers for you. Lost my aunt at 54. Such an important message. People should have a yearly skin check,” replied another.
Meanwhile, one woman chimed in with: “Diagnosed with basal cell [cancer] two years ago. Sold my tanning bed and bought spray tan equipment. Now I only spray tan and help others to do so.”
Tamra is mum to four children: 31-year-old Ryan, 18-year-old Sidney, 16-year-old Spencer, and 11-year-old Sophia.
We are wishing Tamra all the best with her treatment and recovery.
