A leading oncologist has revealed the possible side effects the Princess of Wales may face while undergoing “preventive” cancer chemotherapy.
Princess Catherine may have to deal with fatigue, nausea and vomiting while receiving treatment for the disease, says Dr. Matt Williams.
The future Queen, who could also have problems with her body producing enough red and white blood cells, increasing her risk of infection.
Dr Williams, a consultant at the London Clinic where Kate underwent major abdominal surgery in January, said she may experience some hair loss depending on the medications she is taking.
It comes days after the mother-of-three shocked the nation by revealing she had been diagnosed with cancer after the operation and was being given medication to prevent it from returning.
The Princess of Wales pictured at the opening of a day surgery unit in London on December 5, 2023.
Oncologist Dr Matt Williams told ITV News that Kate can expect side effects from her treatment to include tiredness, nausea and possibly hair loss.
The world has rallied around the Princess of Wales since she announced the news in a televised speech on Friday night, with thousands of people sending well wishes.
The 42-year-old revealed that doctors had discovered an unspecified form of cancer and that she is receiving “preventive” chemotherapy.
Dr Williams told ITV News that the medications Kate takes will have some impact on her quality of life.
“The side effects of chemotherapy depend slightly on the drugs taken, but generally include tiredness, nausea, perhaps vomiting, problems with blood counts and risk of infection,” he said.
“Some people lose their hair, but that largely depends on the medications they are using.”
Professor Pat Price, academic clinical oncologist at Imperial College, said side effects like this are to be expected.
She previously said: ‘These treatments may look like tablets or medicines that are injected. It depends on the type of cancer and is administered all the time or intermittently.
‘Obviously, they can also affect the normal cells in your body, so you may suffer some side effects.
“Hopefully you’ll be able to get them under control and then the chemo will do what it needs to do, and then it’ll be over and hopefully then you’ll be fine.”
Also known as adjuvant chemotherapy, the preventive treatment Kate is undergoing aims to prevent the cancer from returning once the main tumor has been removed from the body.
Cancer can spread to other parts of the body, a process called metastasis, in which small cancer cells break away from the main tumor and take root elsewhere.
These “new” cancers can be difficult to detect, so doctors who specialize in cancer treatment, called oncologists, often advise patients to undergo preventive chemotherapy in an attempt to eliminate any remaining traces of the disease.
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The Princess of Wales with her children in her Mother’s Day portrait, which now takes on greater meaning in light of her diagnosis
In a video message posted Friday, Kate said her medical team recommended she undergo preventive chemotherapy treatment.
Preventive chemotherapy is most often administered via intravenous drip or tablets, which are then carried throughout the body through the bloodstream.
Depending on the type, chemotherapy may be administered in a hospital or at the patient’s home.
There are more than 100 types of chemotherapy drugs, but they all work in a similar way and circulate in the blood.
The drugs are cytotoxic, meaning they are toxic to cells and, in particular, those that divide rapidly.
Because cancer cells divide more than healthy cells, they are more affected by chemotherapy, which is why it is used as a treatment for the disease.
However, other types of fast-growing cells, such as hair, bone marrow, skin, and the lining of the digestive system, are also damaged in the process.
This leads to some of the famous side effects of chemotherapy, such as hair loss or thinning, fatigue, easier bruising and bleeding, increased risk of infection, diarrhea or constipation, nausea or vomiting, rashes, and more.
Often, a patient undergoing chemotherapy also takes other medications designed to help mitigate or combat some of these symptoms.
The specific dose and type of chemotherapy used varies depending on the type of cancer.
The effectiveness of preventive chemotherapy varies considerably from patient to patient.
Factors that affect its success include the specific type of cancer, when it was originally treated, the patient’s age, and whether they have any other health conditions.
The specific type of cancer Kate has has not been revealed.
Although only one in ten cases of cancer occurs in people under 50 years of age, experts warn of an “epidemic” of the disease among the youngest.
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According to Cancer Research UK, more than 375,000 cases of cancer are detected in Britain every year, the equivalent of 1,000 every day.
Figures from the UK suggest that people aged 25 to 49 contribute to around a tenth (9 per cent) of new cases, with almost twice as many women as men in some age groups.
More than a third (36 percent) of new cancer cases, on average, occur in people 75 years of age or older.
Meanwhile, adults between 50 and 75 years old account for more than half (54 percent) of all new cases.
Breast, prostate, lung and bowel cancers make up the overwhelming majority of new diagnoses, accounting for around half of the total.
Dr Shivan Sivakumar, an oncologist at the University of Birmingham, said: “There is currently an epidemic of cancer among young people, under 50 years of age.”
“The cause of this is unknown.”
Professor Andrew Beggs, consultant colorectal surgeon at the University of Birmingham, said: “Early-onset cancer is not at all rare.
“I run a clinic for early-onset adult cancer and we are seeing more and more people in their 40s with cancer.”
Professor Lawrence Young, an expert in molecular oncology at the University of Warwick, added: “Cancer survival is generally higher in younger people.
“Early diagnosis and better treatments are leading to better outcomes, and survival rates have doubled in the last 50 years.”
Figures suggest that around one in two people will develop some form of cancer during their lifetime.
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.