Kate Visits Cancer Patients in Hospital She Funded with Climb
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Catherine, Princess of Wales, has visited the hospital where she was treated for cancer after completing a charity climb to help fund a new unit there earlier this year.
"This was my small way of being able to give back and say thank you," Catherine, who revealed she was receiving cancer treatment in March 2024, told staff at the Royal Marsden hospital in London on Friday.
The princess carried out the Three Peaks Challenge in aid of the hospital in June, which involved climbing the highest peaks in England, Scotland and Wales within 24 hours.
The amount of money she raised has not been made public, but it will go towards a new unit offering complementary healing alongside clinical care.
The princess spoke to patients and staff at the hospital about the importance of support which goes beyond the physical.
"I had incredible care here and support from a huge team and I’m really, really grateful on a personal level," she said.
"But also the holistic care, the treatments and therapeutic support on the outside is so important. It makes a big difference – the impact of nature, the impact of good nutrition, good ongoing support around you when it’s really difficult to manage the trials and tribulations of medical treatments," she reflected.
Catherine sat down and chatted to those receiving treatment at the hospital, including patients with breast cancer, head and neck cancer and a brain tumour.
A patient shared, "When you first get cancer, you’re very aware of the physical impact. The mental impact comes after."
He praised the therapeutic support at the hospital as a "lifesaver", as "there is only so much you can say to your friends and family."
The princess agreed, stating, "Cancer is not just the physical changes your body is going through. There’s a mind-body aspect that changes who you are… having professionals who can help you navigate that is really essential."
Another patient described feeling like she had aged from 46 to 86 due to the illness. Catherine acknowledged the need to support the whole person, saying holistic treatment helped patients "adjust to the lifestyle change that cancer has brought."
She also heard from a patient seeking new experiences post-diagnosis: "There are those moments where you fall down a bit, like, ‘what’s going on?’ And you need to find inspiration."
Catherine agreed, emphasizing the importance of "making the most of life."
After Catherine’s visit, a patient expressed gratitude for her presence, noting, "I forgot that she was a princess. I was just talking to every other cancer patient who has been in this ward."
