The Duchess of York has had surgery after being diagnosed with breast cancer, her spokesperson has said. Sarah Ferguson, 63, was given the news at a recent routine mammogram screening.
“She was advised she needed to undergo surgery which has taken place successfully,” her spokesperson said. “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 duchess wants to express her immense gratitude to all the medical staff who have supported her in recent days.”
He said she was also thankful to the staff involved in the mammogram that identified her condition, which was otherwise symptom-free, “and believes her experience underlines the importance of regular screening”.
The duchess is a patron for Teenage Cancer Trust and spoke at a Breast Cancer Foundation gala in 2019. She visited a clinic in Poland in 2021 to address the issue of women recovering after receiving a mastectomy.
It is understood she was treated at the private King Edward VII’s hospital in London, which has treated members of the royal family for decades.
The duchess recorded an episode of her new podcast, called Tea Talk, the day before she went into hospital. The episode, in which she talks about her diagnosis, will be broadcast on Monday.
NHS figures published in April show that three in every four people survive their cancer the first year after being diagnosed, but rates of breast cancer survival are much higher.
NHS England published a one-year cancer survival index which looks at survival rates in 2020 compared with 2005. The index showed the overall first-year survival rate has risen 9% to 74.6%. The one-year breast cancer survival index is about 97%.
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