Catherine, Princess of Wales, announced on Tuesday in a message posted on social media that she is in remission from an undisclosed type of cancer that was diagnosed last year.
“It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focused on recovery,” the princess said in the message. “As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal. I am, however, looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead.”
This is the first time the princess, formerly known as Kate Middleton, has shared information about her prognosis since announcing last year that she had cancer. She has not disclosed the type of cancer.
The Princess of Wales’s Cancer Journey
Catherine shared the news about her cancer diagnosis in March 2024. In a video statement distributed on social media, she revealed that she’d undergone abdominal surgery in January that detected the presence of cancer, and that she was receiving “preventative” chemotherapy as treatment.
Chemo is often considered once tumors start to grow or spread throughout the body. So-called preventive chemo, also called adjuvant chemotherapy, is often used to attack any cancer remaining after surgery to remove tumors.
In September 2024, the princess announced in a video posted on social media that she had completed chemotherapy.
Outlook for Cancer Has Improved Dramatically in the Past 50 Years
Today, roughly 7 in 10 cancer patients survive at least five years after their diagnosis, compared with only about half of patients in the 1970s, says Frank Penedo, PhD, a professor and the director of cancer survivorship and supportive care at the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine in Florida. Dr. Penedo was not involved in the princess’s care, and spoke in general terms about cancer remission and recovery.
“Cancer is becoming more and more a chronic and manageable condition,” Penedo says. “Early detection and treatment advances account for much of this success, but much work remains to be done to address multiple challenges that come from the survivorship experience.”
What Is Remission in Cancer?
“There needs to be confirmation via various diagnostic tests that there is no evidence of disease, through a physical exam, blood work, or imaging tests,” Penedo says.
Can Cancer Be Cured?
Doctors sometimes say that patients who remain in complete remission for at least five years are cured because most cancers that reappear do so within this timeframe, according to the NCI. But cancer can still return after more time passes, making it difficult to say with certainty that cancer is cured, even when remission has persisted for many years, the NCI notes.
Doctors typically monitor patients for many years to test for signs that cancer has returned and to assess whether patients are experiencing any lingering side effects of treatment, according to the NCI.
Even in Remission, Side Effects of Chemotherapy Linger
- Dental problems
- Early menopause
- Hearing loss
- Heart problems
- Increased risk of other cancers
- Infertility
- Loss of taste
- Lung disease
- Nerve damage
- Memory issues
- Osteoporosis
- Problems with digestion
- Reduced lung capacity
Beyond these physical effects of cancer treatment, patients in remission can also experience a wide range of emotions, as they repeatedly undergo testing to see if cancer has come back, Penedo says.
“Understandably, this can lead to elevated levels of anxiety and fear,” Penedo says. “Managing the uncertainty of whether a cancer will or has returned can be emotionally distressing.”
How Cancer Survivors Can Protect Their Well-Being
- Talk to your doctor. Your oncologist can help you understand your prognosis and what to expect while you’re in remission, so you know how to monitor for potential signs that cancer is coming back.
- Connect with survivors. Cancer survivorship programs can connect you with a support group of other people in recovery and help you talk through the challenges you experience.
- See a nutritionist. A healthy, balanced diet that’s tailored to your specific needs during remission can be beneficial for both your physical and mental health.
- Get some exercise. Physical activity after cancer treatment can relieve stress and build strength and endurance that may have been sapped during cancer treatment.
- Get some rest. Cancer and treatment to attack tumors can be hard on your body. Sleep can aid recovery.
