Topics: Kate Middleton, Royal Family, Cancer, Health, Mental Health
Kate Middleton has been candid about her cancer journey since she first revealed her diagnosis back in March 2024.
In March 2024, the Princess of Wales, 43, began preventative chemotherapy at the time in March last year, and nine months later, she announced the completion of her treatment.
Kate further revealed that she was entering into recovery and made a gradual return to royal duties before sharing that her cancer was in remission in January of this year during a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London.
She said on Instagram that it was a 'relief to now be in remission', adding: "I remain focused on recovery."
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And now, the Princess of Wales gave a new update yesterday (2 July) as she visited Colchester Hospital’s wellbeing garden where she planted 'Catherine’s Rose' to support cancer recovery.
She opened up about what life’s been like post-treatment and explained: "You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism through treatment.
“Treatment's done, then it's like, 'I can crack on, get back to normal,' but actually, the phase afterwards is really, really difficult.
"You're not necessarily under the clinical team any longer, but you're not able to function normally at home as you perhaps once used to."
Speaking about the time needed to recover, she added that everyone expects you to feel better immediately.
Kate said: “There is this whole phase when you finish your treatment that you, yourself, everybody, expects you, right you've finished your time, go, you're better, and that's not the case at all.”
And looking back to June of last year, it’s not the first time the Princess has never shied away from sharing how she’s feeling with the public during her cancer journey.
In her first comments on her treatment at the time since revealing her diagnosis, she explained how going through chemo means there are ‘bad days’ where your body feels 'weak'.
The mother-of-three said: “I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days.
"On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well."
She added: “I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal.”
As Cancer Research UK points out, there are more than 100 different chemotherapy drugs out there and different drugs can cause different side effects.
Some of these include tiredness, nausea, a sore mouth and throat, lack of energy and a weakened immune system.
Chemotherapy works by killing cells that are in the process of dividing into two new cells by damaging the genes inside the nucleus.
However, the treatment also affects healthy body tissues where the cells are constantly growing and dividing, such as your hair, bone marrow, and skin.
The damage to these cells can cause potential side effects, like fatigue, vomiting and nausea, but it’s important to note that normal cells can replace or repair the healthy cells that are damaged by chemotherapy - so the damage to healthy cells doesn't usually last.
For more information, you can visit the Cancer Research UK website.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week.
