Sarah Ferguson tells of the impact of her cancer diagnoses: ‘Like a bomb going off in your life’

Sarah Ferguson has described how she coped after being diagnosed with two cancers in a year, which felt “like a bomb going off in your life”.

Sarah Ferguson has described being diagnosed with two cancers in a year as “like a bomb going off in your life”.

The Duchess of York, 65, was diagnosed with breast cancer and a malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer, in just seven months last year.

She revealed her “mind went to some dark places” following each diagnosis.

In the interview with The Times, she said the cancer diagnoses “was hard”.

“It was hard. I’m generally a positive person but cancer is like a bomb going off in your life,” she said.

“One diagnosis is enough to deal with but I had two in the space of a year.

“I don’t mind admitting that my mind went to some dark places, reflecting on my own mortality.”

Sarah, known to millions of royal watchers as “Fergie”, told of how her family has been a great source of strength for her.

Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York. Credit: Chris Hazzard

“My family have been an immense support to me through this period,” she said.

“I’ve used meditation and mindfulness to help stay positive and balanced.”

The Duchess also paid tribute to a family friend who took his own life.

James Wentworth-Stanley, the son of Clare Milford Haven, was one of her “oldest and dearest” friends, who she had known since the age of seven.

He was a polo player, who ended his life after he was classed as a low priority at hospital, where he waited a few hours before leaving. He died days later.

Ferguson is godmother to James’s younger brother Harry and Milford Haven is godmother to her elder daughter, Princess Beatrice.

“I adored James,” she said.

“He was so special to me and my girls and he and I spent some very happy times together in Argentina, in particular where we shared a love of polo. He had such a twinkle and an incredible sense of humour.”

Ferguson recently took part in a video call to support cancer patients through the Teenage Cancer Trust, a charity that she is a long-term honorary patron of alongside her daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

Princess Beatrice, who is expecting her second baby, was in tears as she heard their stories.

“I’m inspired. I am pregnant so I cry at absolutely everything,” she said.

Originally published as Sarah Ferguson tells of the impact of her cancer diagnoses: ‘Like a bomb going off in your life’