Sarah Ferguson, ex-wife of Prince Andrew, underwent a mastectomy after discovering she had early breast cancer ‘during a routine mammogram’. The mother of Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie wanted to go public with her illness to encourage breast cancer screening and prevention.
- Sarah Ferguson, ex-wife of Prince Andrew, discovered she had breast cancer during a routine mammogram. She had to have a mastectomy.
- Mastectomy is a surgical procedure performed under general anesthesia which consists of removing the breast affected by cancer.
- After her operation, Sarah Ferguson wishes to remind people of the importance of breast cancer screening and encourages women to be vigilant.
After breast cancer was discovered during a mammogram, a mastectomy was performed on Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, and successfully completed on June 25, 2023. “Her doctors told her the prognosis was good”, “she is now recovering with her family”assured his spokesperson. The 63-year-old Briton, for her part, expressed “her immense gratitude to all the medical staff who have supported her in recent days” and his great gratitude to “mammography staff who identified her illness, when she had no symptoms otherwise”. She added that her “experience highlights the importance of regular screening”. Words that she reiterated in her podcast Tea Talk put online on June 25 and produced just before he entered the hospital.
Mastectomy : what is the operation undergone by the Duchess of York?
Non-conservative breast surgery, also called mastectomy, is a surgical procedure performed under general anesthesia. It consists of removing the breast in which the malignant tumor is located.
Depending on the stage of development of breast cancer, doctors suggest:
- a lumpectomy or partial mastectomy: this involves removing the tumor and a small part of the tissue around it. Thus, the breast is preserved in its large part;
- a total mastectomy: the breast is removed, including the nipple and areola.
The main indications for mastectomy are:
- a bulky tumor;
- several tumors in the same breast;
- A cancer with signs of inflammation treated with chemotherapy;
- a recurrence of breast cancer;
- After a first conservative surgery which did not allow the removal of all the cancer cells.
After a mastectomy, it is possible to maintain a flat bust or undergo breast reconstruction. This stage can take place immediately after surgery or several months later. Breast reconstruction solutions are multiple and can be adapted to the needs of each patient.
THE Sarah’s breast cancer Ferguson recalls the importance of screening regular
As a result of her experience, Sarah Ferguson encourages regular screening for breast cancer. In a podcast Tea Talkshe admitted that she had her mammogram only because her sister had forced her to. She thus underlines the importance of preventive examinations and encourages women to be vigilant.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, so it’s important to catch it early with regular checkups like mammograms. In France, women aged 50 to 74 are invited to have a mammogram every two years according to the recommendations of the Haute Autorité de santé. Those with a family history of breast cancer should consult their doctor to assess their risk and recommend appropriate follow-up. Early regular screening allows rapid and effective management of breast cancer.
