Sarah Ferguson's Double Cancer Diagnosis Influences Her Daughters To Fight For Young Victims
The Duchess of York, nicknamed Fergie, is famous for her philanthropic efforts, including a decades-long dedication to the Teenage Cancer Trust. The foundation resonated deeply with the British Royal Family member, who continues to raise awareness for young people with cancer.
Sarah Ferguson gained her title following her then-marriage to Prince Andrew, Duke of York. She welcomed two daughters with her ex-husband, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, who now support the cancer charity foundation.
Ferguson addressed her double cancer diagnosis in a recent interview, noting the heartbreaking news "felt like a death sentence." She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 and underwent a single mastectomy before receiving a diagnosis of malignant melanoma six months later in January 2024.
However, the Duchess of York did not let her double diagnosis break her and channeled the negative energy into something positive. She focused on supporting young cancer victims through the Teenage Cancer Trust, which influenced her two daughters to support the charity.
She addressed her children's move to join her noble cause ahead of a joint outing with them to raise awareness for young people with cancer. "I was 63 when I was diagnosed with cancer for the first time, and cancer at any age is traumatic," Ferguson told The Times, adding:
"But as adults, we have maturity and life experience to help us advocate for ourselves and cope with challenges. We can seek help if we need it, and most importantly, your voices are, sadly, often taken more seriously."
Ferguson, Princess Beatrice, and Princess Eugenie shall visit teenage cancer victims at a facility in London on Wednesday, April 23. The proud mother noted the outing held a special place in her heart, not only because her children supported her goal but to raise awareness for the young souls suffering.
"It's incredibly important to me to seek to amplify the voices and experiences of people with cancer who receive less attention, whose voices are not listened to, and who can be overlooked," Ferguson explained.
She noted these young victims were "consistently neglected by those developing health plans and policies." Ferguson stressed that young people, especially teenagers and young adults, were disadvantaged.
"This is because they are more likely to experience rare cancers or are too old to take part in pediatric trials and too young for adult trials," she explained. "We must find solutions to these challenges and save more young lives."
While launching the new Youth Impact Council at New York Climate Week in September 2024, Ferguson opened up about her feelings following her double cancer diagnosis. At the time, she told PEOPLE, "I think that you never really get rid of the worry about health." Confessing further, she said:
"For every sort of melanoma, you never really know where it is. You look at everything, and you're certainly more aware. It's been an extraordinary journey to have gone through a mastectomy, and then you have to keep having checks, and then you think you're going to get it again. It's a lot of very fragile mind work."
She doubled down on her health battles, paving the way for understanding the struggles of younger victims, saying: "I think that also gives me empathy to understand the fragility of the mind. A lot of young people have fragile, vulnerable times, with cyberbullying and chronic cruelty from other people."
A year before her cancer awareness efforts with her daughters, The Blast covered Ferguson's reaction to King Charles and Kate Middleton's cancer diagnosis. She applauded the duo for being honest about their experiences, noting:
"They are an example to all families going through their own journeys of health."
Kate's chemotherapy video struck a chord with Ferguson, who hailed the Princess of Wales for her moving words. "I love how the Princess reassured everyone, saying, I'm always there for you. I love that video. It was a beautiful video with beautiful words," the Duchess of York chimed.
Additionally, Ferguson reflected on King Charles' first public appearance after revealing his cancer diagnosis. He visited the Macmillan Cancer Centre at University College Hospital in London, with the Duchess labeling his move "very brave" and "very courageous."
Ferguson's sweet comments about King Charles and Kate might stem from the support she received following her second cancer diagnosis. After announcing her malignant melanoma, the monarch reportedly supported the Duchess of York by sending her a heartfelt letter.
At the time, a source claimed the move strengthened the bond between Ferguson and the King, saying: "The King and Sarah are incredibly fond of one another, and now they have bonded over their respective cancer diagnosis with an exchange of letters."
"Cancer is a wicked disease that affects so many individuals and their families, and it's clear that extra support from loved ones and the extended cancer community can help immeasurably," the source added.
Will more members of the Royal Family join Sarah Ferguson's efforts to raise awareness for young people with cancer?
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
7 hours ago
- New York Post
‘Horny' mom, 42, reveals terrifying reason behind the sudden loss of her sex drive: ‘My partner took it personally'
A British mom says she was stunned to learn what was behind the sudden loss of her sex drive. Leanne Jones, 42, was once 'horny,' admitting she loved spending hours in the bedroom with partner Adam, 40. Several years ago, the former legal secretary suddenly found herself struggling to get aroused and wasn't able to climax as usual. 'I went from being very highly sex driven to feeling like Grandpa Joe from 'Willy Wonka,'' the mom-of-two, from South Wales in the United Kingdom, told Jam Press. 5 'I went from being very highly sex driven to feeling like Grandpa Joe from Willy Wonka,' the mom-of-two, from South Wales in the United Kingdom, told Jam Press. Jam Press/@leanne_fighting_ms 5 'There have been many times my partner could've walked away, but he says we are a team,' Jones said. She is pictured with Adam. Jam Press/@leanne_fighting_ms 'My partner took it personally at first, as many would, and thought I didn't love him anymore,' she continued. 'No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get back my once horny self.' Jones was also experiencing 'crippling' fatigue and partial hearing loss. Knowing something wasn't quite right, she saw her doctor and was booked in for an MRI scan. Shockingly, the Brit was diagnosed with two conditions; Multiple Sclerosis (MS), which affects the brain and spinal cord, and functional neurological disorder, which impacts how the brain receives and sends information to the rest of the body. 'Because of the nerve damage to the brain and spine, the signals needed for arousal, sensation and orgasm are no longer there,' Jones explained. 'It creates a disconnect. For us women, there's issues with low sex drive, lack of sensation and lubrication and pain.' 5 'Because of the nerve damage to the brain and spine, the signals needed for arousal, sensation and orgasm are no longer there,' Jones explained. Jam Press/@leanne_fighting_ms 5 The Brit was diagnosed with two conditions; multiple sclerosis, which affects the brain and spinal cord, and functional neurological disorder, which impacts how the brain receives and sends information to the rest of the body. Jam Press/@leanne_fighting_ms While Jones' partner was initially upset about lack of interest in sex, he is standing by her as she faces her health battle. 'There have been many times my partner could've walked away, but he says we are a team,' Jones stated.'I spoke with an MS neurologist in front of him about the issues we were having in the bedroom and he understood that it's not him, it's my brain.' Jones is now an advocate for other people who are suffering MS, taking to TikTok to explain how the illness impacts sex drive. 'I had a number of male sufferers message to thank me for discussing it as a few of them had lost partners over it,' the mom told Jam Press. 'This is why it's so important to raise awareness. It's such a debilitating and lonely life.' 5 In addition to her lack of sex drive, Jones is suffering from problems with her speech and issues with her mobility and vision. Jam Press/@leanne_fighting_ms In addition to her lack of sex drive, Jones is suffering from problems with her speech and issues with her mobility and vision. However, the mom insists she's still able to enjoy her life. 'I want people to know that even though it feels like a prison sentence, it's not,' she said. 'You've got to work with it, not against it, as there's so much to live for.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
All the benefits of having a G&T over a glass of wine
If you're going to indulge in a drink or two, whether on holiday or in a pub garden, a gin and tonic could be the best option for your health. As a registered nutritionist, Sophie Trotman is bound to repeat the words that we are all so used to hearing: 'I would always recommend that you don't drink at all, or at least lower the amount that you drink,' she says. 'Wines can be quite sugary and contain a lot of sulphates,' Trotman says, which can wreak havoc on your digestive system, while beers 'are high in carbohydrates' and can cause your blood sugar to spike. The heroic G&T, meanwhile, is a drink that 'I often recommend to my clients if they don't want to cut out alcohol entirely,' says Trotman. 'The calories and sugar in a single gin with a light tonic are as low as you're going to get.' This will be welcome news to many. The majority of people in Britain now prefer to drink gin and tonic with friends rather than cups of builders' tea, according to spirit brand Bacardi's cocktail trend report, and the UK constitutes the world's biggest market for gin. So what are the benefits of swapping your regular pint or glass of wine for a G&T? The health benefits of a G&T 1. Fewer calories than beer and wine One shot of gin will provide you with around 50 calories, compared with about 130 calories in a medium glass of red or white wine or the 200-300 calories in a pint of beer. A 200ml serving of light tonic to mix your drink will come in at around 30 calories, keeping a health-conscious G&T under 100 calories to a glass. The average British man drinks 17.6 units of alcohol every week, according to NHS data, the equivalent of eight to nine pints of lager (with beer still being the drink consumed most frequently by men in the UK). Drinking the same number of single-measure G&Ts each week – though it is not recommended that any adult consumes more than 14 units of alcohol in this timeframe – would mean cutting around 900 'empty' calories from your diet and losing a stone within a year. Meanwhile, women who switch from the average nine units or four medium glasses of wine per week to single G&Ts would drink 120 fewer calories. This might not sound like much, but tweaks like this can make all the difference in limiting your party-season weight gain. At this time of year when the units we consume will likely outpace our average for the year, 'a gin and tonic is definitely a better option to manage your weight,' Trotman says. 2. Less sugar and carbs than other contenders A single shot of gin contains zero grams of sugar, as well as no carbohydrates. This is one of the reasons that gin is often the drink of those on a ketogenic diet, as it is less likely to knock your body out of its fat-burning state (though all alcohol will make it harder for your liver to process food). Aside from leading to weight gain, drinking any beverage that has a high carbohydrate content – like lager, with 10-15 grams of carbs to a pint, or cider which has as much as 40 grams a glass – can cause uncomfortable bloating and an upset stomach. A no-carb drink such as gin 'will have less of an impact on your blood sugar levels too,' Trotman says, another factor that makes it a better option for keeping your waistline static (and making sure that you've still got some energy the morning after). And while vodkas and rums typically come mixed in fizzy, sugary drinks, the sugar in a slimline tonic typically comes in at around 7.6 grams per 200ml glass, compared with the 21.2g in 200ml of full-fat Coca Cola. Light rather than diet tonic is ideal with your gin as 'diet tonic will be full of artificial sweeteners that can worsen your health in the long term,' Trotman says. 'So if you're having a few, always opt for a light version and a single shot.' 3. A boost from juniper berries and garnishes Gin is made by brewing a neutral-tasting grain with juniper berries and other botanicals such as lemon peel, coriander seeds, cardamom or thyme. Juniper berries contain flavonoids as well as large amounts of vitamin C, which can improve circulation and help ward off colds, and antioxidants which promote skin regeneration. These berries can also speed up your digestive system and soothe inflammation. While the amount of these goodies left over in a single serving of gin is likely 'negligible', Trotman says, gin can also be infused with ingredients that up its health benefits: some kinds on the market have been paired with large volumes of fruit juice for added vitamin C, while some have been specifically blended to provide micronutrients as well as collagen. Others are brewed with extra juniper berries. G&Ts are also easy to make and serve creatively. A quick health tip is just to 'eat the slice of orange that comes with your drink, because every little does help,' Trotman says, or at home 'you could mix in some cranberry juice for antioxidants or add some blueberries for helpful polyphenols'. 4. Easier to drink in moderation The versatility of a gin and tonic is a major reason why Sophie Trotman recommends it to her clients. Along with a light tonic, 'you can add a lot of ice to make it a long drink that you're able to keep sipping over a longer period,' reducing the total amount of alcohol you drink in the course of an evening. The reduced sugar and artificial sweeteners involved meanwhile will make it easier to stop at just a few, turning down the dial on your cravings and helping you to call it a night earlier. Unlike wine, the leftover bottle of which can call from the fridge on a Monday evening, a G&T takes more effort to make and so it becomes 'easier to have days off,' Trotman says. 'It's also very easy to alternate your G&Ts with glasses of water, which you'll thank yourself for the next day,' Trotman says. For those looking to cut down there are other benefits too. 'It shouldn't be a concern, but if you start on G&Ts and switch to a non-alcoholic version later in the night, there will be no label on your glass and so no peer pressure from anyone else to keep going.' Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
‘Japanese walking' promises big health gains in 30 minutes. Health experts are skeptical
It promises the benefits of a 10,000-step walk in just 30 minutes. No gym membership required. Just a pair of shoes and a willingness to alternate between brisk and slow-paced walking in three-minute bursts. Dubbed 'Japanese walking,' the latest viral fitness trend is all over TikTok and has people wondering whether this short-interval workout can improve health more efficiently than a traditional stroll. The trend has spread across social media and beyond, with bloggers, online articles and major media outlets all jumping in on the walking routine. The protocol traces back to a 2007 Japanese study that tested the effects of high-intensity interval walking on middle-aged and older adults. But the recent buzz started with a punchy video from Australian content creator and fitness coach Eugene Teo that surpassed 10 million views on TikTok and 17 million views on YouTube. Known to his over 426,000 TikTok followers and 1.22 million YouTube followers as 'Coach Eugene,' Teo rebranded the science-backed routine into an accessible, algorithm-friendly idea: 'Japanese walking.' 'People don't like fitness jargon,' Teo, 33, said in a recent interview with The Times. 'They don't like scientific terms … and if I want to impact millions globally ... I like to make fitness advice and scientific jargon a lot more accessible.' In his video explainer, Teo describes the method: Walk fast for three minutes, slow down for three minutes and repeat the cycle five times. According to the small study of 186 women and 60 men, participants who followed this routine four or more days a week saw greater improvements in blood pressure, leg strength and aerobic capacity than those in the moderate-intensity continuous walking group. 'It's that cardio work that a lot of people are missing,' Teo said. Teo, a longtime coach and nutritionist, didn't invent the protocol, but he did help it reach millions. He said his viral video resonated with people overwhelmed by the pressure to hit 10,000 steps a day — a goal Teo himself often finds out of reach. He's been following this protocol on and off for years, ever since he came across the study. Usually, he does his walking on a treadmill. 'A lot of people have this all-or-nothing approach where they think, 'Oh, I can't hit 10,000 steps. I've failed,'' he said. 'It's about just changing the stigma people have and that all-or-nothing mentality ... of what fitness should be about.' He emphasizes effort over perfection: Walk fast enough to get out of breath, but not so fast that you can't finish the three-minute interval. The recovery periods are as slow as needed to reset. But is the science behind the trend as strong as the messaging? Dr. Helga Van Herle, a cardiologist with Keck Medicine of USC, noted flaws in the original study's design — namely, that only the high-intensity walking group was monitored with accelerometers, not the moderate intensity group, a bias that could have skewed results. 'This creates a major bias in the monitoring and compliance and could potentially skew the results in favor of the high-intensity training group,' she said in an email, pointing to the Hawthorne effect, a phenomenon in which people alter their behavior because they know they're being watched. Dr. Parveen Garg, also with Keck Medicine of USC, said he doesn't see intense interval walking as a standout recommendation among physicians. The study, he said, was small and meant to be thought-provoking and encourage further research, not to support sweeping conclusions. He supports any activity that gets people moving but cautions against over-hyping Japanese walking benefits or ease. 'It's kind of onerous,' he said, explaining that remembering to switch gears every three minutes, walking fast and slow and navigating technology isn't easy for everyone. He said it's possible to get similar benefits by walking continuously at a vigorous pace for a shorter time. But there isn't enough evidence to confirm that. Experts agree that vigorous activity, even in short spurts, is beneficial. David Raichlen, professor of biological sciences and anthropology at USC, said short intervals of increased effort — even just walking briskly for a few minutes — can yield meaningful health effects. 'There's something to the idea that small amounts of vigorous activity are really beneficial,' Raichlen said. Raichlen also noted that calling high-intensity interval walking 'Japanese walking' simply because of the study's origin is problematic. Yasuyuki Suzuki, a cardiac imaging specialist from Tokyo, is aware of the trend and the associated study. He said that while there is some new interest in the topic, it is not trending in Japan the way it appears to be in other parts of the world. He also said he does not feel any discomfort or concern about it being referred to as 'Japanese walking.' As for whether this method is better than 10,000 steps or continuous walking, Raichlen is hesitant to say — the research just isn't there yet. Higher walking cadence has been linked to lower dementia risk, Raichlen said. Also, walking in general has been tied to lower mortality, reduced cancer risk and improved cardiovascular health. 'I do think there's a lot of good from encouraging people to think about walking as exercise,' Raichlen said. 'Finding ways to sort of make walking work better for you is, you know, not a bad thing.' Still, the simplicity and catchy name may be why it took off. 'Pretty much anybody in Los Angeles can go outside and walk around,' said Sarah T. Roberts, a UCLA associate professor and internet culture expert. Roberts sees the trend as a reflection of broader social forces, including medical mistrust and the rising cost of health care and fitness. 'We're in a moment of economic uncertainty,' she said. 'For most people, a $300-a-month membership at Equinox is not a reality.' That, she said, makes low-barrier trends like 'Japanese walking' especially appealing. But Roberts cautioned against the risks of turning to TikTok and other social media platforms for medical advice. 'Stuff doesn't happen in a vacuum,' she said. 'There's a bigger social and political context to all of these things, and the backdrop to these kinds of trends is not great.' Roberts encourages viewers to critically evaluate where their health advice comes from and who profits from it. 'People with big followings often have something to sell,' she said. 'They're not really acting in the public interest.' Still, Roberts said, with every health trend, social media companies are profiting. Although some platforms have tried to crack down on medical misinformation, Roberts said such content moderation has fallen out of favor because it affects revenue. 'Devaluing expertise means devaluing the collective knowledge that people have in certain domains,' Roberts said. 'If I try to fix my own car, my car is probably not going to run very well. Now apply that to my body.' Teo said fitness trends should be approached with discernment. He's not claiming to replace traditional walking — just to offer a stepping stone for cardio. And if a viral name is what it takes to get people walking, he's OK with that. 'As long as you're not misleading people,' he said, 'and there's legitimate substance behind it, it's a great way to spin things.' Teo, Raichlen, Garg and Roberts all agree on one thing: Talk to your doctor before starting any new exercise routine, especially one that reaches vigorous intensity.
