Kate Middleton Says Her Cancer Is In Remission, Know What It Means

The Princess of Wales, Catherine, Kate Middleton in an emotional update, shared that she is in remission from cancer. In her first visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital since her treatment, she expressed gratitude and optimism about her recovery journey.

In a social media post signed "C", she described her relief and her focus on recovery. She also wrote about the challenges in adopting a life with cancer diagnosis, and wrote: "It takes time to adjust to a new normal. I am however looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead."

She also expressed appreciation for the Royal Marsden Hospital and thanked the staff for their dedication and also for the support she and Prince William received from others during the journey. She said, ""My heartfelt thanks go to all those who have quietly walked alongside William and me as we have navigated everything".

What Does Cancer In Remission Mean?

Remission in cancer happens when cancer treatment reduces or eliminated the amount of cancer in your body. It can be a complete or partial remission. In complete remission, it means there is no sign of cancer, whereas in partial remission, it means the cancer has decreased or stopped growing. Remission from cancer can last for months or even years.

Are There Different Types of Remission?

Like mentioned before, the major difference is the complete and partial remission.

A complete cancer remission happens when there is not any evidence of cancer on physical exam, blood work or imaging test. This means, if you have lung cancer in complete remission, your CT scan will show the cancer has disappeared. However, it does not mean that remission does not mean cancer is gone forever, it can recur. Thus, it is important to continue to follow-up.

Partial remission means the imaging and blood tests will show cancerous tumors, which are now 50% smaller than they were before treatment, or that the tumor cells are no longer growing.

But, does it mean that you are cured of cancer?

The main difference between the two is the recuring factor. In remission, even if complete, the cancer can happen again, whereas, if you are cured, then it will not come back.

While for Catherine, the type of cancer has not been revealed, there have been speculations that it may be an ovarian or a uterine cancer.

A Year Of Recovery

Catherine's health challenges were first revealed last January when she underwent abdominal surgery. By March, she announced she was in the early stages of cancer treatment. In September, she shared that her chemotherapy had ended.

Since then, she has slowly resumed public engagements, including appearances at significant royal events, signaling her ongoing recovery.

Now a joint royal patron of the Royal Marsden alongside Prince William, Catherine follows in the footsteps of Diana, Princess of Wales, who also supported the hospital. She also visited patients undergoing cancer therapy and emphasized with them speaking from her own experience. "It's really tough... It's such a shock," she told one patient, encouraging a positive mindset despite the challenges.

She also acknowledged the long-term effects of treatment, saying, "You think the treatment has finished and you can crack on and get back to normal, but that's still a real challenge."

Founded in 1851, the Royal Marsden treats 59,000 patients annually and remains a leader in cancer treatment and research.