‘Tough to get back to normal’: Princess Catherine in remission from cancer

In a solo visit to the hospital where she received cancer treatment the Princess of Wales empathised with patients, saying she felt that she needed to get outside and into the sunlight during ‘tough’ chemotherapy.

Catherine, the Princess of Wales has revealed she is in remission from cancer but admitted: “It’s hard to get back to normal”.

Nearly 12 months after having major abdominal surgery which required a fortnight in hospital, followed by the shock of doctors discovering cancer, the princess announced: “It is a relief to now be in remission”.

She said she is ‘looking forward to a fulfilling year” as she remains focused upon her recovery.

Catherine revealed she had been receiving treatment at the Royal Marsden Hospital and on Tuesday she thanked staff for her exceptional care.

“I wanted to take the opportunity to say thank you to The Royal Marsden for looking after me so well during the past year,” Catherine posted on social media.

On Tuesday she also visited the hospital thanking the medical staff for their “care, support and compassion” as she was announced, alongside Prince William as joint patrons of the hospital.

Catherine arrives for her visit to The Royal Marsden Hospital. Picture: Getty Images.

Catherine gently hugged patients and inquired about their treatments and how they were progressing. She empathised with those undergoing chemotherapy, saying “its really tough’’, and adding “it’s such a shock’’.

The princess revealed that people had told her to keep a positive mindset because it makes a big difference. She also said she had been warned to bring in her warmest clothes because of the side effects of chemotherapy treatment.

“I really felt like I needed to get the sun,’’ she told one patient, adding “you need loads of water and loads of sunlight’’.

Catherine said that she was doing well, but said it was hard to get back to normal.

Opening up about cancer treatment 

The memories of the chemotherapy cycles of treatment were clearly still raw for the 43 year old.

“Sometimes you feel relatively well, and then you have another one (round of treatment),’’ she told a patient.

“Sometimes from the outside we all thing you’ve finished treatment and you go back to things. But it’s hard to get back to normal’’.

Catherine hugs Rebecca Mendelhson during a visit to The Royal Marsden Hospital. Picture: Getty Images.

In remission

In her social media post Catherine said her heartfelt thanks went to all those who “have quietly walked alongside William and me as we have navigated everything.’’.

She added: “We couldn’t have asked for more. The care and advice we have received throughout my time as a patient have been exceptional.

“In my new role as joint patron of the Royal Marsden, my hope is that by supporting groundbreaking research and clinical excellence, as well as promoting patient and family wellbeing we might save many more lives and transform the experience of all those impacted by cancer.”

Catherine has not divulged the type of cancer she has suffered other than she initially had abdominal surgery. She provided updates last year, announcing in September that she had finished chemotherapy and was doing what she could to “stay cancer free”. At the time she said her full recovery was long and she must continue to take each day as it comes.