It was announced last week that Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, had been diagnosed with breast cancer. And following a long eight-hour single mastectomy surgery the 63 year old now feels "lucky to be alive."
The Duchess discovered her cancer after a routine mammogram, allowing for "early detection" and it was great news all-round when the surgery was successfully completed and the Duchess was comfortably resting and recuperating after four days in intensive care afterwards.
The surgery took place at King Edward's VII's Hospital in London with the grandmother of three, who was also a guest speaker at a Breast Cancer Gala Dinner in 2019, feeling "very grateful to those who saved her" during the long medical procedure.
A friend of the Duchess, who is back home now, told The S un: "The surgery took getting on for eight hours and was more involved than people think.
“Today, the message she wants to get out is that she’s very grateful and she feels very lucky to be alive.
“She wants to thank the two incredible surgeons Christine Choy and Stuart James who saved her life and all the medical team who worked tirelessly to help her.”
Surgeon Christine Choy carried out the single mastectomy while colleague Stuart James reconstructed the breast using fat from Fergie’s stomach during the intricate procedure.
Sarah's spokesperson toldOK!in a precious statement: "Sarah, Duchess of York was recently diagnosed with an early form of breast cancer detected at a routine mammogram screening.
"She was advised she needed to undergo surgery which has taken place successfully."
OK! has contacted Sarah's representatives for further comment.
Sarah, who has been a patron of the Teenage Cancer Trust for more than 30 years, has vowed to push a national breast cancer screening drive following her experience, hoping to raise awareness on the importance of getting checked regularly.
Some breast cancers are too small to see or feel but a mammogram x-rays the breast to look for these often-missed signs. Women aged between 50 and 71 are automatically invited for breast screening every three years.
Recuperation time will no doubt involve well-spent time with her newest and third grandchild, Ernest George Ronnie Brooksbank, who was born on May 30.
Sarah had admitted that she cried when her daughter Princess Eugenie told her that her newborn baby boy would be named after Sarah's late father.
Describing her beautiful grandson for the first time on the second episode of hr Tea Talks podcast, she called Ernest a "seriously beautiful little boy," moving the Duchess to tears.
Ernest's middle name Ronnie pays a lovely tribute to Major Ronald Ferguson. The former royal polo manager died in 2003.
She added: "When Jack [Brooksbank] and Eugenie told me, it was so moving that they had put my dad in there. It was so kind, I thought. It made me cry."
Sarah has two other grandchildren – Eugenie’s eldest son August and Beatrice’s daughter Sienna – as well as a step-grandson, Wolfie – Beatrice’s stepson.
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