‘It's a rollercoaster': UK's Princess Kate on ‘the reality' of life after cancer treatment
Speaking at Colchester Hospital, she praised the value of support centres for aiding recovery journeys.
Kate's revelation comes as she and King Charles III continue to recover from their respective cancer diagnoses.
Catherine, Princess of Wales, on Wednesday likened recovering from cancer to riding 'a rollercoaster' as she spoke of going through 'hard times' in her battle with the disease.
Kate, as she is widely called, is married to heir-to-the-throne Prince William and revealed she had been diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer in March last year.
After undergoing a course of 'preventative chemotherapy' in January, she revealed she was in remission and has been gradually returning to public royal duties.
Visiting a cancer support centre at Colchester Hospital in eastern England, the 43-year-old princess told patients, volunteers and staff there that life following cancer treatment was not plain sailing.
'It's a rollercoaster; it's not one smooth plain, which you expect it to be,' she said.
'But the reality is it's not; you go through hard times, and to have a place like this, to have the support network - whether it's through creativity and singing or gardening, whatever it might be - is so valuable, and it's great that this community has it.'
Stefan Rousseau/AFP
Kate added that patients recovering from cancer 'put on a sort of brave face' and tend to show 'stoicism' but noted that 'the phase afterwards is really, you know, difficult.'
'You're not necessarily under the clinical team any longer, but you're not able to function normally at home as you perhaps once used to.'
Kate, who has three young children with William, pulled out of attending the Royal Ascot race meeting last month as she continues her recovery and gradual resumption of duties.
Her father-in-law, King Charles III, 76, announced in early 2024 that he too had been diagnosed with an unspecified cancer.
He has since returned to public duties but is still undergoing treatment.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
28 minutes ago
- Washington Post
A patient's eye view of radiation therapy: This is what it feels like
Too often in pop culture, 'cancer' is synonymous with chemotherapy and depressing scenes of noble patients enduring hair loss and intravenous drips. But for many people, including palliative care patients like me, radiation therapy can provide another avenue to slow disease and reduce pain with fewer side effects. Although it can also be a robust part of curative treatment for a range of cancers (including prostate and breast cancers), in my case, it quickly — and disappointingly — became clear that radiation wasn't going to jolt my metastatic Ewing's sarcoma into retirement (never the likeliest outcome). But it ameliorated some discomforts and with notably less wear and tear than the chemo alternatives.
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
A Pilates expert says these are the 8 best exercises for longevity to 'help you stay healthy in later life'
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. If you want to live a longer, more fulfilling life – aka being able to bend down and pick something up without straining your lower back – then building a stronger, more mobile body should be a top priority. Pilates is a great way to achieve this, as it helps improve and maintain our musculoskeletal health. According to Lotty Campbell Bird, founder of The Collective Fitness Studio, this is key to helping you 'stay fit, strong, and healthy in later life.' 'Musculoskeletal health is crucial for longevity because it enables mobility, independence, and overall well-being, all of which are vital for healthy ageing,' she explains. 'Strong muscles, bones, and joints allow you to perform daily tasks, maintain an active lifestyle, and reduce the risk of falls and injuries, which can significantly impact quality of life and lifespan.' In order to help you build a stronger, resilient body, Lotty has shared eight Pilates exercises that will help enhance your musculoskeletal health. 'These exercises build core strength and postural alignment, which supports your spine and joints, prevents musculoskeletal deterioration that is common when aging, and help to maintain bone density.' Make sure you give the video above a quick watch if you're unfamiliar with the exercises (FYI, the video has been sped up, so make sure you take them slow). Focus: Spinal articulation, core engagement, glute and hamstring activation. How to: Lie on your back, knees bent, feet flat Inhale to prepare, exhale to slowly roll your spine off the mat one vertebra at a time Inhale at the top, exhale to roll back down Benefits: Improves spinal mobility, strengthens posterior chain. Reps: 8-10 Focus: Glutes, hamstrings, spinal support, pelvic stability. How to do it: From a bridge position, lift one leg off the mat into tabletop while maintaining level hips Alternate your legs Benefits: Builds leg strength and improves balance, preventing hip and lower back dysfunction. Reps: 5-6 each side Focus: Deep core muscles (transversus abdominis and pelvic floor). How to do it: Lie on your back, lift legs to tabletop or straight up, curl head and shoulders off the mat. Pulse arms vigorously up and down as you inhale for 5 counts, exhale for 5. Benefits: Activates your deep core stabilisers and helps support posture. Reps: x 10 cycles of breath Focus: Improving core control and boosting hip mobility. How to do it: Lie on your back, with your head and shoulders curled up Alternate legs as one pulls in, the other reaches long Benefits: Strengthens abdominals while improving hip mobility and coordination. Reps: 8-10 each side Focus: Back extensor muscles, shoulder stabilisers and glutes. How to do it: Lie face down, hands under your forehead and legs extended. Lift upper back off the ground, keeping your eyeline on the floor and your feet and legs still. Benefits: Supports spinal extension, counters forward postures, and improves muscular balance. Reps: 8-10 reps Focus: Hip stability, glute medius strength and pelvic alignment. How to do it: Lie on your side with one arm tucked under your head for support and stack hips on top of one another Lift top leg slowly with a flex and lower with control with a point Benefits: Strengthens hip, helps with balance and offers lower back support. Reps: 10-15 each leg Focus: Spinal flexion, hamstring stretch, postural alignment. How to do it: Sit tall with legs extended and your feet flexed Inhale to sit taller, exhale to reach forward from the spine Benefits: Lengthens spine, reduces compression, increases flexibility. Reps: 6-8 Focus: Stability of core and pelvis and hip mobility. How to do it: Lie on your back, one leg extended up, the other on the mat Circle the raised leg while keeping hips stable Benefits: Strengthens the core and improves hip joint range of motion without compromising the spine. Reps: 8-10 each side
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
7 Signs Someone Feels 'Emotionally Isolated,' Even Around Loved Ones, According to a Psychologist
7 Signs Someone Feels 'Emotionally Isolated,' Even Around Loved Ones, According to a Psychologist originally appeared on Parade. When the going gets tough, it makes sense that many of us retreat sometimes, preferring instead to hide away from others and process things on our own. While this certainly can be a healthy coping mechanism for a short time, if someone begins to emotionally close themselves off from friends and loved ones, it can be cause for concern. Ahead, look for the seven signs that you or someone you care about might be 'emotionally isolated.' Plus, a psychologist reveals what this term actually means, common causes of emotional isolation and how to help someone in your life if they're feeling this deep loneliness, disconnection or Being 'emotionally isolated' means that you may feel disconnected from others on a deep, personal level—even if you're around people on a regular basis, as clinical psychologist Dr. Lauren Cook explains. 'You may feel like no one notices you or that you're emotionally unsupported by others,' she says. 'You might go through the motions socially and others may even be surprised to know that you're feeling lonely and disconnected. For others, it can even border into a dissociative state where you feel disconnected from your body and physicality.' Related: There are several things that can lead to someone feeling emotionally isolated. According to Dr. Cook, this state can come about from past trauma, chronic stress, depression, anxiety (especially social anxiety) or 'simply not feeling safe enough to open up,' she can also result from life changes—such as moving to a new city, going through a breakup or losing a loved one. 'It's important to know though that these feelings do not have to last forever,' Dr. Cook says. 'It's not a diagnosis or a chronic life condition.' Related: 7 Signs of Depression Most People Miss, According to Mental Health Experts 'It's that fake smile or a forced laugh, but you know that they're not genuinely enjoying the moment with you,' Dr. Cook observes. Related: You may notice that your pal or loved one only shares small details, only wants to send you memes or keeps the focus solely on you, as Dr. Cook says. 'It can mean they're avoiding their own feelings,' she adds. Dr. Cook says that in some cases, staying 'perpetually busy' is actually a defense mechanism, and can be a sign of emotional isolation. 'When you keep yourself so distracted that you have no time to feel your feelings, it's a cue of emotional isolation, even if that's not intentional,' she This person may say that they're fine or that their problems are no big deal, but it may be due to the fact that they're worried about being a burden to others, as Dr. Cook says. Related: 'When they need support the most, they go into a dark tunnel where they don't answer your texts, you can't get ahold of them (sometimes for weeks) and they've just generally ghosted,' Dr. Cook explains. Dr. Cook points out that emotional isolation isn't just about suppressing pain externally—it's also not letting others in on the positive moments 'It's important to make note of this because the two can go hand in hand,' Dr. Cook cautions. 'When people emotionally isolate, they can feel ashamed of their pain or like no one wants to hear about it. If this is the case, it's important to get external and professional help. This feeling of intensity can pass.' Related: Parents and Grandparents Should Look Out for These 11 Signs of Loneliness in Loved Ones Perhaps you're noticing all the signs in someone you suspect is emotionally isolating themselves. To help, Dr. Cook recommends 'creating an environment where they can share, one where there's no pressure to disclose.' She adds, 'Let them know you're there for them, not to fix them, but to listen.'Additionally, you should avoid pushing someone to share, and instead, you may want to start with a little self-disclosure yourself 'where you open up about your own emotions.' Dr. Cook goes on to say, 'Show that you can demonstrate empathy for their experience. They may feel like no one cares or could understand.' Related: Lastly, if someone begins to withdraw completely from communicating, or they seem disingenuous, forced or fake in their interactions, be mindful of these differences. 'Look out for major shifts in mood, changes in sleep or appetite, feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness or any clues that they're thinking about self-harm or suicide,' Dr. Cook advises. 'Don't ignore your gut—if something feels wrong, it's okay to check in directly or seek help from a mental health professional.' Note: If you or someone you care about is experiencing suicidal thoughts, know that you are not alone and help is available. Reaching out can feel difficult, but support can make a life-changing difference. The is available 24/7 by calling or texting , or by visiting Trained counselors offer free, confidential support for anyone in emotional distress or crisis. Up Next:Dr. Lauren Cook, clinical psychologist 7 Signs Someone Feels 'Emotionally Isolated,' Even Around Loved Ones, According to a Psychologist first appeared on Parade on Jul 5, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 5, 2025, where it first appeared.
