When my dear friend Sarah Ferguson found out she had cancer, she broke the news in her typically irrepressible way.
She tried to take it lightly, but as her friend, I was worried sick.
I first met Sarah in 1992 when I was a young television interviewer known for getting the big prime time interviews. I had been dreading the interview – what if it went wrong or she canceled?
But Sarah was genuine, smart, and lovely. She was there to raise money and raise awareness for charity, and over the years I’ve learned just how caring and generous Sarah is as a person.
Now, three decades later, she shared some of the most devastating news a human being could receive.
Sarah Ferguson was diagnosed with breast cancer after a routine mammogram and has since had surgery
I first met Sarah in 1992 when I was a young television interviewer known for getting the big prime time interviews. Now, three decades later, she shared some of the most devastating news a human being could receive
My mother was dying of breast cancer and I knew how difficult the road could be.
I was at my home in California on May 11th when Sarah first mentioned that something was wrong.
We texted back and forth when I told her I was at the doctor’s for a scheduled check-up.
My head was full of questions – how could that be? I’m sure it was in no small part due to the stress Sarah had to endure from all the “nonsense,” as we often called it — that is, supporting her ex-husband Prince Andrew when he was forced to marry his abandon official royal duties his friendship with pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Now it’s certainly his turn to support her.
She told me she was glad I was getting checked out. At first I thought it was typical of Sarah kindly looking out for one of her friends.
It was the middle of the night in Los Angeles — but her follow-up text woke me up in my bed.
She told me she would have to have “minor surgery” the following week.
“I don’t like it,” I replied in my gloomy state.
Her response was honest but typically upbeat – one of the qualities I’ve always admired in the Duchess.
She went on to explain that a routine mammogram had detected a small breast lump and it was caught early.
At first we had little cause for concern.
It went smoothly – and we hoped it would just be a cancer scare, nothing more.
Meanwhile, Sarah insisted it would be business as usual.
She traveled to Bogata with her charity Sarah’s Trust and attended a wedding in Venice. She sent me a photo in a silk green dress in one of the famous gondolas. She was stunning, the picture of health.
Sarah continued to travel for her charity work and was thrilled to be a grandmother again – this time to her new grandson Ernest, Princess Eugenie’s second son, who was born on May 30.
Sarah Ferguson and Daphne Barak (far right) in Beverly Hills. Left to right: Antonia Marshall (Fergie’s longtime assistant), David Ellender (Halcyon Studios), Fergie, Erbil Gunasti (Daphne’s husband), Daphne Barak
Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew attend Day Four of Royal Ascot on June 21, 2019
He put a big smile on her face.
Still, I sensed that her mood had changed.
Worse was to come.
A biopsy of the lump confirmed that it was indeed cancer.
My heart has stopped beating. How could this happen to my kind, loving friend? Something like this shouldn’t have happened.
Nevertheless, Sarah was focused – factual.
There was only one option – a mastectomy, and it was booked for the following Tuesday.
I’m close to Sarah, but even I was surprised at her courage in the face of such ordeal. Keeping my spirits up seemed more important to her than her own diagnosis.
I offered to fly her out of the US to attend the surgery but she told me she was in good hands. Her sister Jane had joined her from Australia and her daughters have also been a comfort – Eugenie has almost moved in with her mother in recent weeks and Beatrice is on the phone constantly.
When the day of the mastectomy came, I could tell she was nervous.
I was anxiously awaiting news when she texted me last Sunday that she was finally home.
I sent her a bouquet of purple flowers, her favorite color.
When I spoke to her a day later, she seemed shocked but determined and assured me that she was confident of pulling through.
Despite her upbeat optimism, Sarah is clear-headed and realistic. She is the first to admit that she has a long road to recovery ahead of her. But if anyone has the courage to do it, it’s her.
Because my friend already had to shoulder so much.
Who is Daphne Barak?
Daphne Barak is a renowned interviewer and documentary filmmaker whose subjects have included Nelson Mandela, Donald Trump, Hilary Clinton, Johnny Depp and Michael Jackson, among others.
Daphne’s best-selling book, Saving Amy, based on months of filming with Amy Winehouse and her family, is being adapted into an eight-part TV series by Halcyon Studios.
The last few years have been particularly tense. She was a rock to her ex-husband amid the scandal surrounding his association with disgraced tycoon Jeffrey Epstein.
In my opinion, the stress Sarah has been exposed to for years must have had a negative impact on her health.
We discussed the situation in April when I met Sarah in London.
My husband Erbil Gunasti and I were in town to chat about an upcoming TV show and of course we took time to meet our friend.
It was my birthday and although Sarah had already sent a lovely present to my US home, she arrived with another. She is extremely generous.
We share a love of dogs and she gifted me a special bag for walking my three pooches that has space for treats and poop bags.
In return, I gave her a summer handbag and a golf umbrella, which she happily modeled in photographs we took that day.
It was a fun, but also emotional afternoon.
Sarah is the glue of the York family.
When Andrew needed a friend, Sarah was there for him, even when various family members and friends reacted in a cruel and derogatory manner. She was at his side after the Queen’s death when messengers from the royal household suggested they vacate their home, the Royal Lodge.
Sarah spent a lot of time with my partner, Erbil and I in Beverly Hills in March while we were promoting her novel A Most Intriguing Lady.
It was around this time that reports said she had not been invited to the king’s coronation. But instead of reacting with irritation or anger, Sarah handled it with grace.
She reminded me that she has been invited to both Christmas and Easter gatherings with the royal family and that she has developed a warm relationship with Camilla.
I admired the positive way she saw it. I also admire the positive way she continues to deal with her cancer diagnosis.
I know she will use her incredible light and energy to ensure other people are examined.
In her most recent podcast, she said, “I want every single person that’s listening to this podcast to get screened, get screened, and do it.”
“Cancer can be silent, such a silent little hideaway. Get examined, get examined. Do not wait.’
- Daphne’s latest book, Struggling for One America, written with Erbil Gunasti, is published by Skyhorse Publishing and can be purchased here.
Read more from Daphne here.