WASHINGTON — Kate, the Princess of Wales, revealed on Friday that she is undergoing treatment for cancer.
Princess Kate's diagnosis comes months after she underwent an abdominal surgery for a condition described as noncancerous at the time. The 42-year-old princess said the cancer wasn't discovered until tests after the January operation revealed the diagnosis.
"My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy, and I'm now in the early stages of that treatment," Kate said in the video message released by Kensington Palace.
What kind of cancer does Princess Kate have?
Few specific details were given on Friday about Princess Kate's cancer diagnosis.
In her video, the princess asked for "time, space and privacy" as she continues her treatment for the unspecified form of cancer.
"As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment," Kate said. "But most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that's appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I'm going to be okay."
"As I've said to them, I am well. I'm getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal in my mind, body and spirit," the Princess of Wales continued.
Dr. Shivan Sivakumar, associate professor in oncology at the University of Birmingham, said it’s unclear what the princess meant by “preventative” chemotherapy but he presumed that it’s what is known as “adjuvant” chemotherapy in the medical profession.
“This is chemotherapy after an operation to prevent recurrence,” he said. “This is to attempt to destroy any circulating cancer cells.”
What kind of treatment is Kate having?
The palace statement said no details would be provided about her cancer or her treatment, other than she started it in late February.
“We will not be sharing any further private medical information. The Princess has a right to medical privacy as we all do,” the statement said.
After successful surgery, chemotherapy is often used to help kill any stray cancer cells and to prevent the cancer from coming back. Treatments have evolved, and when chemo is used now, it’s sometimes for shorter periods or lower doses than it once was.
How long will Kate's treatment last?
The palace statement said that will be up to her doctors. "The princess is now on a recovery pathway,” the statement said.
The news is another jolt for the royal family since the announcement last month that King Charles III was being treated for an unspecified type of cancer that was discovered while undergoing a procedure for a benign enlarged prostate.
Charles, 75, has withdrawn from public duties while he has undergone cancer treatment, though he's appeared frequently in photos carrying on meetings with government officials and dignitaries and was even seen going to church.
Kate has been away from the public eye for months, fueling speculation and rumors about the Princess of Wales' whereabouts.
Attempts to put rumors to bed by releasing a photo of her on Mother's Day in the U.K. surrounded by her three smiling children backfired when The Associated Press and other news agencies retracted the image because it had been manipulated.
Kate issued an apology the following day, acknowledging she liked to “experiment with editing” and apologizing for “any confusion” the photo had caused.
Kate hadn’t been seen publicly since Christmas until video surfaced this week of her with her husband, Prince William, heir to the throne, walking from a farm shop near their Windsor home.