EastEnders star Gillian Taylforth’s sister Kim has been diagnosed with skin cancer
Kim has been diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma and has already had to have removals
GILLIAN Taylforth's sister Kim Taylforth has revealed that she has been diagnosed with skin cancer.
Actress Kim, 59, had to break the news to her sister over the phone that she had been diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma after their busy work schedules meant they weren't near each other.
However, she ran to be by her sister's side as quickly as possible and was there for her when she left the hospital.
Speaking to , Kim said: “When I sent the picture to Gilly of the scar on my forehead - it looks like a bullet wound - she rang me crying.
“She sat with me when I came out of hospital after having the one on the side of my nose removed.
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“My family are amazing - throughout any crisis, we’re there for one another.”
After being diagnosed with the condition - which is most commonly caused by overexposure to the sun - Kim has undergone surgery to have three growths surgically removed from her face.
She has also had a further five growths treated with photodynamic therapy.
Following her diagnosis and to help spread awareness, Kim - a former policewoman and actress - will be appearing on Lorraine as part of a new campaign to raise awareness over skin cancer.
The Very Important Parts (VIP) Skin Special will discuss those who have suffered with skin cancer, as well as how to prevent it.
On reflection, Kim blames her time in the sun as a teenager, where she would cover herself in baby oil and lay in the sun with her sister in order to get a tan.
She hopes that her story will make people think twice before they do the same after survey of 2,000 male and females for the new campaign showed worrying results.
It discovered only 30% of people always wear sunscreen, almost 40% burned on sunbeds in the past month and almost 50% rated a holiday tan as important.
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