Kate needs time and space to recover, says charity boss
The head of Cancer Research UK has said the Princess of Wales must be given “time and space” as she continues to undergo treatment for cancer.
Chief executive Michelle Mitchell said she wished Kate a “full, swift recovery and return to good health... during this difficult time”.
“Nearly one in two of us will develop cancer during our lifetimes, but many more are affected when someone they love is diagnosed with cancer,” she continued.
“Thanks to research there is hope - cancer survival has doubled in the last 50 years.
“High-profile cancer cases often 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.”
NHS chief executive, Amanda Pritchard, said she was sorry to hear the “shocking news” and added that “speaking out about it is really brave” and could help other people in a similar situation.
Ms Pritchard said: “On behalf of the NHS, I'm really sorry to hear this shocking news.
“Our thoughts are with the Princess of Wales and the Royal Family, especially while her treatment continues.
“We know how difficult a diagnosis and treatment journey can be for patients and their families.
“Speaking out about it is really brave and it can help others to get worrying signs
and symptoms checked. If you're worried about cancer, the NHS website has more information.”
Chemotherapy works by killing existing cancer cells and can help prevent the disease coming back.
There are many different types of chemotherapy, but the most common types are tablets and liquids that are put directly into the vein (intravenous chemotherapy). It can be given before or after surgery, or on its own. It can also be given in a palliative way, when the cancer has spread and chemotherapy is not being used to cure the disease, but it helps ease symptoms.
Chemotherapy can be used even when surgeons believe they have removed all the cancer, owing to the risk the disease might come back.
This can lower the risk of a cancer recurrence or a new cancer.
Professor Bob Phillips, Professor of Paediatric Oncology at the University of York, said:
“For some types of cancers, chemotherapy can be given after to act to ‘mop up’ if there are any cancer cells left.
“The value of this varies between cancer types, and even the size and place of the same cancer type.”
Prof Andrew Beggs, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, said preventive chemotherapy was “a bit like mopping a floor with bleach when you've spilt something on it, chemotherapy kills any spilt cells”.
Chemotherapy can also be combined with other treatments to make them more effective, such as when it is used alongside radiotherapy.
Chemotherapy given into a vein is usually carried out as an outpatient hospital procedure, whereas chemotherapy tablets can be taken at home, with regular check-ups from medical staff.
Sometimes, people have more than one type of chemotherapy.
How long they need treatment for also depends on the stage and type of cancer.