Princess Kate Middleton’s brave announcement about her recent cancer diagnosis has sparked Americans’ interest in their own health.
Data collected this week by health care clinics suggests that online searches for the terms “cancer symptoms” have increased by 65 percent.
What’s more, data compiled by DailyMail.com shows that Google queries using the term “abdominal surgery” – the operation in which the princess’s cancer was discovered – have increased more than 2,000 per cent in the last seven days.
Queries for “ovarian cancer prognosis” increased by 1,550 percent and “stomach cancer prognosis” queries increased by 900 percent.
Searches for ‘preventive healthcare’ have increased by 90 percent and searches for ‘prognosis’ have increased by 60 percent.
Experts at The Devonshire Clinic, a dermatology clinic in the United Kingdom, analyzed search data and found that queries for “signs of cancer” and “cancer tests” also increased after its publication, by 41 percent and 40 percent, respectively.
doctor daniel Landauoncologist and hematologist, told DailyMail.com that since the announcement, patients have become more “in tune” with their bodies and “many people are desperately seeking reassurance that their symptoms are not cancer.”
Kate Middleton posted a video online where she revealed her cancer diagnosis and that she was receiving preventative chemotherapy.
Your browser does not support iframes.
The future queen of England, 42, announced her diagnosis in an emotional video last week. She thanked the public for their well wishes and explained that her medical team had found cancer during her abdominal surgery in January.
Kate received tremendous support, with patients and experts alike thanking her for raising awareness about the disease.
Dr Conal Perrett, dermatological surgeon at Devonshire Clinic in London, said: “Raising awareness of the symptoms of cancer plays a crucial role in saving lives. By sharing her experience, Kate Middleton not only shed light on the realities of the fight against cancer, but also inspired others to seek help and support.
‘It’s about understanding, compassion and breaking stigmas, and by speaking out, she has become a person to look up to for those facing similar challenges.
“As the data shows, public speaking has led others to seek cancer symptoms and testing, thereby increasing awareness and ultimately saving lives.”
Dr. Landau also told this website that the princess’s announcement “offers potential benefit to the general population.”
“Many people who have been neglecting their care, believing they are too young and healthy to deal with a serious situation, now see that it really can happen to anyone.”
After surgery, Kate’s doctors recommended preventative chemotherapy, which she has just started.
It has not been revealed what type of cancer the mother of three has.
Thousands of people commented on the video and people shared their own stories about a cancer diagnosis.
According to additional Google statistics, Americans have expressed increased interest in even less obvious cancer-related terms.
“Prostate screening,” “oral cancer screening,” “colon cancer screening,” and “colon cancer symptoms in women” also saw significant increases in searches.
Google processes 8.5 billion queries a day and the United States comprises about 25 percent of those searches, meaning the increase in searches for cancer-related terms could translate to millions of Americans.
The above shows the most common type of cancer in each country.
The graph above shows the change in rates of cancer cases worldwide in people under 50 years of age.
Kate’s diagnosis, along with increased interest in cancer, has shed light on the disease’s epidemic among young people.
Between 1990 and 2019, cancer cases in people under 50 increased by 79 percent worldwide and deaths increased by 28 percent.
Studies project that diagnoses will continue to increase by 31 percent and deaths will increase by 21 percent in 2030.
The American Cancer Society estimated that 40 percent of Americans will develop the disease during their lifetime, while one in five diagnosed will die from the disease.
The Princess’s case also highlights the importance of cancer screening and early diagnosis.
Although the stage of Kate’s disease has not been officially confirmed, it appears that the cancer was caught early as she is receiving “preventive chemotherapy.”
If tumors have advanced to other areas of the body, more aggressive types of chemotherapy are traditionally given to kill any remaining cancer cells.
Kate also said in her public speech that she feels “fine” and has assured her three young children that “it’s going to be fine.”
According to the CDC, cancer screening decreased from 2012 to 2022, but Health officials and experts emphasize the importance of getting screened for cancers like breast and colon cancer, which are on the rise in the U.S.
The CDC said: “Cancer screening, which is different from diagnostic testing, can detect cancer in early stages before symptoms appear, when it can be treated more successfully.”
“In addition to early detection, screening can prevent colorectal and cervical cancers by identifying precancerous lesions that can be removed before they become cancer.”
The health agency said cancer screening could prevent thousands of cancer deaths.
