LONDON, United Kingdom – In a candid revelation that has resonated across the globe, Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, has opened up about her recent breast cancer diagnosis and is using her platform to advocate for early screening ardently.
Speaking on her podcast, Tea Talks With The Duchess and Sarah, the 63-year-old royal divulged that she was diagnosed following a routine mammogram.
The podcast aired on Monday, June 26, 2023, and was recorded just a day before she underwent a successful mastectomy.
“It’s very important that I speak about it,” she declared to her co-host, Sarah Thomas, emphasizing the significance of spreading awareness about the disease.
The Duchess’s representative confirmed the success of the surgery, stating, “The Duchess is receiving the best medical care and her doctors have told her that the prognosis is good. She is now recuperating with her family.”
The representative also conveyed the Duchess’s gratitude to the medical staff, especially those involved in the mammogram that detected her symptom-free illness.
During the podcast, affectionately known as Fergie, the Duchess recounted how her sister, Jane, persuaded her to attend the screening appointment.
Fergie recalled, “It’s easy to put it off — ‘I’ll do it next week,’” but emphasized how Jane’s insistence made a world of difference. “Thank you, Jane,” she expressed. “I think it’s so important you do talk about it.”
Reflecting on her late father, who succumbed to prostate cancer, Fergie stressed the paramountcy of early detection.
“I am doing this. I am telling people out there because I want every single person that is listening to this podcast to go get checked, go get screened and go do it,” she passionately urged.
Her co-host, Sarah Thomas, shared startling statistics: “For everybody who goes to a mammogram, only nine in a thousand are found to have something. But you’ve got to remember, that’s before any symptoms come, you didn’t find a lump or anything. And the earlier your diagnosis, the much greater chance you have. Ninety-seven percent of people who then have early diagnosis because of all the incredible new treatments are still alive after five years.”
Addressing the common fears associated with the disease, Fergie admitted, “the minute you mentioned the word it’s frightening.”
However, she expressed her gratitude to the National Health Service, the doctors, and nurses who have been a source of solace and strength through her journey.
Having worked with cancer charities, especially the Teenage Cancer Trust, for over three decades, the Duchess revealed that her interactions with cancer patients have given her insights that she now leans on.
“I’m so grateful I’ve talked to so many sufferers with cancer that I can glean from them certain tips that can help me through this moment,” she said.
Furthermore, the Duchess is setting her sights on the future with plans to pen her third book. “I’m gonna go out there and get super fit and super well, super strong,” she confidently declared. “And if I have to shout about this from the top of the mountains then I’ll shout about it. Because I think it’s vital that we need to wake everybody up to go screen, not just breast cancer. I’m talking prostate and all the checks.”
Fergie’s courageous disclosure and advocacy for early screening have already sparked waves of support and conversations around the importance of preventative health measures.
As she recovers with the support of her family, her words are likely to remain a rallying cry for awareness and action.
