Vinnie Jones’ wife dies after long skin cancer battle – how to spot melanoma signs early
The wife of British actor and former professional footballer Vinnie Jones died yesterday after a six-year battle with cancer. The Hollywood star’s wife, Tanya, died at the age of 53, at home in Los Angeles surrounded by her loved ones. A statement released from Jones’s management said: “At 8.46am local time in Los Angeles on Saturday July 6, Vinnie Jones’s wife, Tanya Jones, passed away after a long illness. Tanya passed peacefully at the Jones family home surrounded by Vinnie, their daughter and other family members.
“Vinnie and the family ask for privacy while they go through an understandable period of mourning during this devastating time.”
Back in 2013, Vinnie revealed that both he and Tanya were suffering from melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer.
Vinnie had found a lump under his eye, and a check-up revealed it was malignant melanoma. Then Tanya developed the same illness.
Melanoma is a type of skin cancer that can spread to other organs in the body. The first sign of a melonoma is usually a new mole or a change in the appearance of an existing mole, according to the NHS. “Normal moles are generally round or oval, with a smooth edge, and usually no bigger than 6mm (1/4 inch) in diameter.
“But size isn’t a sure sign of melanoma. A healthy mole can be larger than 6mm in diameter, and a cancerous mole can be smaller than this,” added the health body.
Most skin cancer is caused by prolonged exposure to the sun without sufficient protection. Artificial sources of light, such as sunlamps and tanning beds, also increase the risk of developing the condition. Repeated sunburn, either by the sun or artificial sources of light, increases the risk of melanoma in people of all ages.
Tanya had been ill for quite a while. But the last two or three weeks her condition really deteriorated
Once you’ve had melanoma, there’s a chance it may return, said the NHS. Sadly, despite Vinnie fighting the condition successfully, the condition then got worse for Tanya.
A source added: “Tanya had been ill for quite a while. But the last two or three weeks her condition really deteriorated.
“Vinnie has been by her bedside. It’s heartbreaking news.”
The insider said the believed Vinnie had been in the UK and flown back when he heard her condition was getting worse.
In addition to sun exposure, there are a number of particular risk factors associated with melonoma, these include:
- Lots of moles or freckles
- Pale skin that burns easily
- Red or blonde hair
- A close family member who’s had melanoma
The main treatment for melanoma is surgery, although your treatment will depend on your circumstances, said the NHS.
If melanoma is diagnosed and treated at an early stage, surgery is usually successful.
If melanoma isn’t diagnosed until an advanced stage, treatment is mainly used to slow the spread of the cancer and reduce symptoms.
This usually involves medicines that target specific genetic changes in the melanoma, such as BRAF inhibitors, or medicines that boost the body’s immune responses to the melanoma (so-called checkpoint therapies).
“Research is under way to produce vaccines for melanoma, either to treat advanced melanoma or to be used after surgery in people with a high risk of the melanoma returning,” added the health body.
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