Catherine, Princess of Wales, on Friday announced that she has cancer and is in the early stages of chemotherapy, asking for \u201ctime, space, and privacy\u201d as she completes her treatment.<\/p>\n
Kate, as she is widely known, said the discovery of cancer, after successful abdominal surgery in January, was \u201ca huge shock,\u201d but she was \u201cwell and getting stronger every day.\u201d.<\/p>\n
The disclosure came after royal officials said in early February that King Charles III was being treated for cancer, forcing him to cancel all public engagements.<\/p>\n
Charles said he was \u201cso proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did,”\u00a0 leading messages of support, including from UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the White House.<\/p>\n
Like Charles, the 42-year-old princess, whose husband Prince William is heir to the throne, did not disclose the exact nature of the cancer.<\/p>\n
But she described the last few months since she went into the hospital as \u201cincredibly tough\u201d for her, William, and their three young children.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London, and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous,\u201d she added in a video statement, filmed on Wednesday at Windsor, west of London, where they live.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy, and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Preventative chemotherapy is given \u201cafter an operation to prevent recurrence,”\u00a0 said Shivan Sivakumar, associate professor in oncology at the University of Birmingham in central England. \u201cThis is to attempt to destroy any circulating cancer cells,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Absence<\/strong><\/p>\n Kate \u2014 one of the most photographed women in the world, is a central figure in the royal family and married Prince William, 41, in 2011.<\/p>\n She said it had taken them time to explain the situation to Prince George, aged 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and five-year-old Prince Louis, \u201cand to reassure them that I am going to be OK.\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cAs I have said to them; I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body, and spirits,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n Her Kensington Palace office said she was \u201cfocused on making a full recovery\u201d and would return to official duties \u201cwhen she is cleared to do so by her medical team.\u201d.<\/p>\n William, Kate, and their children are seen as the modern face of the British royal family, and key to its future as it faces declining support among younger people and increasing Republican sentiment.<\/p>\n She was last seen at a public engagement on December 25, when she joined the king and other senior royals at a Christmas Day church service.<\/p>\n Kensington Palace announced on January 17 that she was facing up to two weeks in hospital and several months\u2019 recuperation following abdominal surgery.<\/p>\n She was not expected to be ready to return to public duties until after Easter on March 31, a statement at the time said.<\/p>\n Royal officials did not disclose the exact nature of her condition but said it was not cancer-related.<\/p>\n Charles diagnosis<\/strong><\/p>\n That announcement came shortly before a separate statement from Buckingham Palace that 75-year-old Charles was to have surgery for a benign, enlarged prostate.<\/p>\n He later spent three days at the same private hospital in central London. Officials then said in early February that tests had identified \u201ca form of cancer\u201d, without giving further details.<\/p>\n The king has cancelled all public engagements except audiences with the prime minister and ambassadors, and worked on official papers while undergoing treatment.<\/p>\n He has been photographed several times since then, and seen attending church.<\/p>\n But there has been rampant speculation online about Kate\u2019s health and whereabouts, particularly online.<\/p>\n She was not seen arriving or leaving the hospital, and William was only spotted visiting once.<\/p>\n