The Duchess of York has revealed that she underwent a single mastectomy after a mammogram revealed breast cancer.
Sarah Ferguson, 63, said she was putting off routine check-ups until her sister, Jane Ferguson, who lives in Australia, insisted she be checked.
The Queen is now urging all people to get checked up and said her diagnosis was a “wake-up call” to become “super fit”.
On the Tea Talks with the Duchess and Sarah podcast, she said it was “vital” that everyone was screened for cancer and that “so many people” in her family had died from cancer.
She explained that her stepfather, Héctor Barrantes, died of prostate cancer in 1990 at the age of 50, while her father, Ronald Ferguson, also died of cancer and used his diagnosis to urge people to investigate.
“It’s important that we wake everyone up so they can have screening, not just breast cancer, all screening,” she said.
The Duchess of York has announced that she had a double mastectomy after a mammogram found breast cancer
Sarah Ferguson, 63, said she was putting off routine check-ups until her sister Jane Ferguson, who lives in Australia, insisted she be checked (the pair are pictured together).
Sarah added that after his diagnosis, her father Ronald “went on the radio telling people to get checked out,” only to get a horrible reaction.
He said: “It doesn’t matter if you can see that it feels good. Cancer can be so quiet, go for a check-up, get checked out.”
“Most of his friends called him and said, ‘No, I don’t want to hear from you Ronald,'” she said.
“But we’re taping the podcast today, and tomorrow I’m going to have a single mastectomy.” “It’s very important that we talk about it. By the time it airs I will have been through it,” added the Duchess.
“I don’t care if nobody wants to hear from me, I’m telling you I do and I’m telling people to get checked out.”
Prince Andrew was pictured driving in Windsor today following revelations about his ex-wife’s breast cancer
It has been revealed that Sarah, Duchess of York, has undergone surgery to treat breast cancer
The Duchess underwent surgery at King Edward VII Hospital in Marylebone, central London, where members of the royal family are often treated
The mother-of-two – who was married to Prince Andrew from 1986 to 1996 – added that she might now “do an Iron Man” or travel to Austria, Wales and Scotland to “climb mountains”.
“I see this as a real gift to change my life.” To feed myself and stop trying to fix everything else. I’m like, “Are you going to take yourself seriously now, Sarah?”
“I’m going to get fit, I’m going to understand it. I’m going to be super fit and super strong, really understand what caused this and look at it head-on.”
“I love joy and this is my chance. I can’t come up with any more excuses, I need to go through this surgery and be strong and fit.”
The Duchess of York (centre) with her two daughters Princess Beatrice (left) and Princess Eugenie (right)
The Duchess added that her examination took place on a “hot day” and that she did not plan to “travel from Windsor to London” for the appointment.
“It was easy to put off,” she explained.
“My sister said, ‘No go, you have to go.’ She called me about something else and got energetic by telling me I had to go.’
The Duchess added that she was at the Royal Free Hospital in north London for her test, which saw her dye injected into her body so doctors could spot the cancer.
“It was just a shadow, they wouldn’t have… figured out there was a problem.”
Leading up to the surgery, Sarah added, “I have to go through this surgery and I have to be healthy and strong.” And that’s why no choice is the best choice.
“I’m going to go out there and get super, super good – super strong.”
In the first episode of her podcast, Fergie revealed she’s “very shy” and said she trusts “too much” and “too many people” (pictured with her co-host Sarah Jane Thomson).
“And I always want to do it, if I have to scream about it from the top of the mountains, then I’ll scream about it because I think it’s important that we wake up, that everyone gets screened, not just breast cancer, prostate and all the controls.”
She added that she is “very grateful” to the hospital staff involved in the mammogram that detected her breast cancer and believes her experience “underscores the importance of regular checkups.”
After undergoing surgery at King Edward VII Private Hospital in Marylebone, central London, she was told her prognosis was good and she was recovering with her family in Windsor.
In a statement, a spokesman said Sarah wanted to “express her huge thanks to all the medical staff who have supported her over the past few days.”
It is understood she spent five days at the King Edward VII Hospital, regularly used by the royal family, before her release this weekend.
Her spokesman said: “Sarah, Duchess of York, was recently diagnosed with an early form of breast cancer during a routine mammography screening.”
Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide, affecting more than two MILLION women every year
Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer worldwide. There are more than 55,000 new cases in the UK each year and the disease claims the lives of 11,500 women. In the US, it strikes 266,000 people and kills 40,000 each year. But what causes it and how can it be treated?
What is breast cancer?
It comes from a cancer cell that develops in the lining of a milk duct, or lobule, in one of the breasts.
When the breast cancer has spread to the surrounding tissue, it is said to be “invasive”. Some people are diagnosed with “carcinoma in situ,” where no cancer cells have grown beyond the duct or lobules.
Most cases occur in people over the age of 50, but younger women are sometimes affected. Breast cancer can develop in men, but it is rare.
The staging tells you how big the cancer is and whether it has spread. Stage 1 is the earliest stage and stage 4 means the cancer has spread to another part of the body.
Cancer cells are graded from low (slow growth) to high (rapid growth). High-grade cancers are more likely to come back after the initial treatment.
What Causes Breast Cancer?
A cancerous tumor starts from an abnormal cell. The exact reason why a cell becomes cancerous is unclear. Something is thought to damage or change certain genes in the cell. This causes the cell to become abnormal and multiply “out of control”.
Although breast cancer can develop for no apparent reason, there are some risk factors that can increase risk, such as genetics.
What are the symptoms of breast cancer?
The usual first symptom is a painless breast lump, although most are not cancerous and are fluid-filled cysts that are benign.
The first place where breast cancer usually spreads is in the armpit lymph nodes. When this happens, a swelling or lump develops in the armpit.
How is breast cancer diagnosed?
- First assessment: A doctor examines the breasts and armpits. They may do tests like a mammogram, a special X-ray of breast tissue that can indicate the possibility of tumors.
- Biopsy: In a biopsy, a small sample of tissue is taken from a part of the body. The sample is then examined under a microscope to look for abnormal cells. The sample can confirm or rule out cancer.
If you are diagnosed with breast cancer, further tests may be needed to determine if the cancer has spread. For example, blood tests, an ultrasound of the liver, or a chest X-ray.
How is breast cancer treated?
Treatment options to consider include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and hormone treatment. A combination of two or more of these treatments is often used.
- Surgery: Breast-conserving surgery or removal of the affected breast, depending on the size of the tumor.
- Radiation therapy: A treatment in which high-energy rays are focused on cancerous tissue. This kills cancer cells or stops them from multiplying. It is mainly used as a supplement to the operation.
- Chemotherapy: A treatment for cancer with anti-cancer drugs that kill cancer cells or stop them from growing.
- Hormone Treatments: Some types of breast cancer are influenced by the “female” hormone estrogen, which can stimulate cancer cells to divide and multiply. Treatments that lower the levels of these hormones or prevent them from working are often used in breast cancer patients.
How successful is the treatment?
The best chances are those who are diagnosed when the cancer is small and has not spread. Surgical removal of a tumor at an early stage can then offer good chances of recovery.
The routine mammogram offered to women between the ages of 50 and 70 means more breast cancers are diagnosed and treated early.
For more information visit breastcancernow.org or call toll free on 0808 800 6000
“She was told she needed surgery, which was successful.”
“The Duchess is receiving the best medical care and her doctors have told her the prognosis is good.” She is now recovering with her family.
“The Duchess would like to extend her huge thanks to all the medical staff who have supported her over the past few days.”
“She is also very grateful to the staff involved in the mammography who diagnosed her disease, which was otherwise asymptomatic, and believes her experience underscores the importance of regular check-ups.”
A friend of the Duchess said: “It all happened very quickly to be honest.” But Sarah is in the best of hands and based on her experience she would like to spread the word about the importance of regular check-ups.”
The Duchess, Prince Andrew’s ex-wife, is mother to Princess Eugenie, 33, and Princess Beatrice, 34. Beatrice was spotted near the hospitality area at Glastonbury Festival yesterday greeting friends with a hug.