Cancer charities hail Kate for speaking out
CANCER enquiries to NHS and charity websites have soared since the Princess of Wales revealed her own diagnosis.
Visits to NHS online cancer pages rose nearly five-fold following the announcement, while Cancer Research UK and Macmillan reported a surge in clicks.
The Duchess of York yesterday expressed her admiration for Kate’s decision to speak publicly about being treated for cancer following abdominal surgery in January.
Sarah, who has battled breast and skin cancer, said she believes her fellow royal’s openness will help to raise public awareness. ‘All my thoughts and prayers are with the Princess of Wales as she starts her treatment,’ she posted on social media.
‘I know she will be surrounded by the love of her family and everyone is praying for the best outcome.
‘As someone who has faced their own battles with cancer in recent months, I am full of admiration for the way she has spoken publicly about her diagnosis and know it will do a tremendous amount of good to raise awareness.
‘I hope she will now be given the time, space and privacy to heal.’
Experts believe Kate’s message of hope will encourage more patients living with disease to seek support.
In the 24 hours after the princess revealed she was having treatment there were 2,840 visits to the NHS cancer website, up 373 per cent on the same period the previous week.
Some 4,172 people looked at the cancer symptoms page in the three hours after her recorded television message. The page had 1,922 visits during the same timeframe a week earlier. Cancer Research UK had more than 200,000 visitors to its support pages and Macmillan was close to 100,000 by the end of Sunday – the highest weekend figures since the start of lockdown.
In her television address, Kate spoke of taking time to reassure her children that ‘I am going to be OK’.
Gemma Peters of Macmillan Cancer Support said many cancer patients would relate to her words, adding: ‘We hear from people every day who are worried about how cancer will affect their loved ones, and how best to support each other through it.
‘The Princess of Wales has raised awareness of these worries and will be helping to encourage others who have concerns to visit their GP and seek support. Many will be relating to the Prince and Princess of Wales at this time. Some of the first thoughts parents have after being diagnosed with cancer are how it may affect their children, and whether talking to them about it will make them worry but it is important to give them the chance to talk openly about their fears.’ Michelle Mitchell of Cancer Research UK said: ‘These figures show how high-profile cancer cases can act as a prompt to encourage people to find out more or think about their own health.
‘If people spot something that’s not normal for them or isn’t going away, they should check with their GP.’
‘Praying for the best outcome’