A woman affected by cancer has told how her cancer was detected during abdominal surgery, just like Kate Middleton.
Maia Kennedy, 38, from Hackney, London, began suffering from nausea in December 2023, but her GP initially ruled out her symptoms being due to acid reflux.
She was eventually called in for an emergency test, where doctors found a tumor in her intestine during her colonoscopy.
At the time it was thought to be precancerous.
Mrs Kennedy then received the devastating news that it was stage one cancer after undergoing routine surgery to remove part of her intestine in February 2024.
Maia Kennedy, 38, began experiencing nausea in December 2023 and was called for an emergency colonoscopy.
In December 2023, Mrs Kennedy (pictured in hospital) experienced nausea and a change in her bowel habits, which were ruled out by her GP as acid reflux. It wasn’t until doctors ran some tests that she was called in for an emergency colonoscopy in January, during which they found a tumor.
Since it was detected early, he did not need chemotherapy and is now in remission.
However, he sees parallels between his own experience and that of the Princess of Wales, who last week announced her own battle with cancer.
In an emotional video clip filmed in Windsor, Kate, 42, revealed the news came as a “huge shock” and that she and William “have been doing everything they can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family.” “. .
Mrs Kennedy, who is a similar age to Kate, said: “As a young, healthy woman, you never think this will happen to you.”
‘But it can happen to anyone, even royalty, who have the best medical care in the world.
“I feel a lot of empathy for what Kate is going through, it’s a difficult time, never mind when you’re in the public eye.
“When I heard about her surgery, I thought of her.”
He added: “It was a strange experience to discover that my journey was similar to hers.
“When everyone talks about her, it brings up a lot of thoughts about what I’ve been through too.”
In December 2023, Kennedy experienced nausea and a change in her bowel habits, which her primary care doctor ruled out as acid reflux.
It wasn’t until doctors ran some tests that she was called in for a colonoscopy in January, during which they found the tumor.
Mrs Kennedy said: “I knew something wasn’t right but you don’t go in expecting them to find something like that – it was a huge shock to me.”
At first specialists thought her tumor was not cancerous, as they had thought with Kate’s when she underwent major abdominal surgery in January.
Kennedy remained in the hospital for a week after her surgery to remove part of her intestine in February.
Weeks later, while still recovering, he received a call informing him that a biopsy of the tumor confirmed that it had in fact been cancerous.
Because the biopsy showed it was stage one bowel cancer, he did not need chemotherapy.
She said: ‘It all happened very quickly, from December to March.
‘It has taken over my life, but it has been a very short period of time. “It’s very surreal to say I had cancer.”
In a video message on Friday, Kate revealed that the diagnosis “came a huge shock” but that she was now in the “early stages” of preventive chemotherapy treatment.
Ms Kennedy has still been struggling emotionally with her diagnosis and wants to warn others to watch out for the symptoms.
Bowel cancer, which is one of the most common types of cancer in the UK, may also be known as colorectal cancer.
Tumors can be found anywhere in the intestine or rectum.
Around 43,000 Britons are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year, according to Cancer Research UK.
Telltale symptoms include bleeding from the butt, bloating, weight loss without trying, tummy pain, and changes in stool, such as having softer stools, diarrhea, or constipation that is unusual for you.
The Princess of Wales was admitted to a London hospital in January for planned surgery and returned to her home in Windsor to continue her recovery.
However, doctors discovered an unspecified form of cancer in tests performed after the operation.
In a video message on Friday, Kate revealed that the diagnosis “came a huge shock” but that she was now in the “early stages” of preventive chemotherapy treatment.
Kennedy admitted that learning about the Princess’ journey with cancer revealed many parallels with her own.
She said: ‘When I heard about her abdominal surgery, I thought of her.
‘I thought it sounds similar to me.
“At the time they weren’t saying mine was cancer, just like they said his wasn’t at first.”
He is now undergoing NHS physical rehabilitation sessions to regain his strength.
But Kennedy has still been struggling emotionally with his diagnosis and wants to warn others to watch for symptoms.
‘As a young, healthy woman, you never think it’s going to happen to you. I never thought she would do it,’ she said.
‘Listening to Catherine’s story, my emotions went up and down; That brings to mind the “what if” feelings.
‘What if I had stopped it or hadn’t gotten infected, or had to receive chemotherapy like her?
“I feel a lot of empathy for her and what she’s going through; it’s a difficult time, let alone doing it in the public eye,” he added.
‘It has been the hardest thing I have ever had to go through.
“You have to be aware of the symptoms, because it can happen to anyone, even royalty.”
“The sooner you catch it, the better.”
Kate’s cancer battle in her own words: Princess of Wales’ emotional video statement in full
I wanted to take this opportunity to personally thank you for all the wonderful messages of support and understanding while I was recovering from surgery.
It has been an incredibly difficult couple of months for our entire family, but I have had a fantastic medical team who have looked after me very well, for which I am very grateful.
In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time my condition was thought to be non-cancerous. The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found that there was cancer. Therefore, my medical team recommended that I undergo preventive chemotherapy treatment and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.
Of course, this was a huge shock, and William and I have been doing our best to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family.
As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery to be able to start my treatment. But, most importantly, it took us a while to explain everything.
George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them and to reassure them that I am going to be okay.
As I have told you; I’m doing well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirit.
Having William by my side is also a great source of comfort and peace of mind. As has the love, support and kindness that many of you have shown. It means a lot to both of us.
We hope you understand that as a family we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment. My job has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I hope to return when I can, but for now I must focus on making a full recovery.
At this moment I also think of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. To all who face this disease, in any form, do not lose faith and hope. You are not alone.