Sarah,Duchess of York,diagnosed with breast cancer

Sarah,Duchess of York,63,has undergone surgery for breast cancer after she was diagnosed following a routine mammogram screening.

After spending several days in hospital,she was discharged and is recovering at Royal Lodge in Windsor,the home she shares with her former husband,Prince Andrew.

Sarah,Duchess of York,arrives at Westminster Abbey ahead of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in September.

Sarah,Duchess of York,arrives at Westminster Abbey ahead of the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in September.Getty Images

It is not yet known whether she will require further treatment.

“Sarah,Duchess of York,was recently diagnosed with an early form of breast cancer detected at a routine mammogram screening,” her spokesman said on Sunday.

“She was advised she needed to undergo surgery,which has taken place successfully.

“The duchess is receiving the best medical care and her doctors have told her that the prognosis is good. She is now recuperating with her family.”

Sarah,Duchess of York (centre),in a file photo with her daughters,Princess Beatrice (left) and Princess Eugenie.

Sarah,Duchess of York (centre),in a file photo with her daughters,Princess Beatrice (left) and Princess Eugenie.Getty Images

The spokesman added that the duchess wanted to express her gratitude to the medical staff who had supported her in recent days.

“She is also hugely thankful to the staff involved in the mammogram which identified her illness,which was otherwise symptom free,and believes her experience underlines the importance of regular screening,” he said.

The day before she was admitted to hospital,the duchess discussed her diagnosis on her new podcast,Tea Talks with the Duchess and Sarah,which was released on Monday.

In the podcast,she vowed to remain positive and urged people to be screened.

“It doesn’t matter if you see it feel fine. Cancer can be so silent,” she said.

“Go get screened,go and get checked. Don’t wait.”

She recalled a conversation with her sister in Australia when she mentioned that she was due to have a test.

It was easy to put the test off,but her sister was insistent.

“She said ‘go,I need you to go’,” the duchess added.

The test entailed being injected with a dye,which shows doctors where to go.

Without the injection,the cancer would not have been discovered.

“It was only a shadow they wouldn’t have ... found out that there is an issue.”

The disease runs in the duchess’ family including her father,Major Ronald Ferguson,who had prostate cancer. Her stepfather,Hector Barrantes,was only 51 when he died of cancer.

The family tragedies inspired the duchess to become involved with cancer charities,a commitment which has lasted over three decades.

Relieved that the cancer was caught early,she vowed to make the most of life and become “super fit”.

She added:“I have to go through this operation,and I have to be well and strong. And therefore,no choice is the best choice.

“I’m going to go out there and get super,super well – super strong.

“And I want to always if I have to shout about this from the top of the mountains then I’ll shout out because I think it’s vital that we need to wake everybody gets screened not just breast cancer,prostate,all the checks.”

The Telegraph,London

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