Kate Middleton revealed on March 22, 2024 that she was suffering from cancer and spoke about the difficulties of talking about the illness to her young children: George, Charlotte and Louis.
- Kate Middleton revealed she was suffering from cancer on March 22, 2024.
- She started chemotherapy. She also said it was difficult to find the right words to explain her illness to her children.
- Talking openly about the illness to your child helps them put the situation into words and prevents them from imagining the worst.
While her health was the subject of much speculation since her abdominal operation last January, Kate Middleton announced in a video published on March 22 that she had cancer and had started chemotherapy.
Kate Middleton: tests revealed cancer
“In January, I had a major abdominal operation in London. At the time, it was thought that my condition was not cancerous”explains the Princess of Wales.“However, tests carried out after the operation revealed the presence of cancer”, she confides with emotion. If Kate Middleton does not specify the nature of the cancerous tumor discovered, she indicates that she is following preventive chemotherapy on the advice of her medical team. “I am now in the early stages of this treatment”explains the 42-year-old woman who adds that her family has “need for time, space and privacy” during this complex period.
In this video, Prince William’s wife also spoke about the difficulty of talking about her illness to her 3 children aged 10, 8 and 5 years old. “It took me time to recover from major surgery to begin my treatment, but more importantly, it took us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that was appropriate for them and to reassure them that I will be fine.”
Announcing cancer to a child: use simple words that are accessible to their age
Indeed, when a parent is affected by a serious illness, the question of telling children quickly arises: Should we talk about it? How can I say ? When to say it? This is a very complicated time for sick parents. For the psychologist specializing in children, Julie Scouppe, it is essential to put words to the situation and one’s state of health. She explained in a previous article in Why Doctor: “In absolute terms, you need to talk to him about it, once you are sufficiently informed about the pathology, so that he does not imagine the worst and keep him away. Children are emotional sponges. Thus, they quickly feel and realize that the adults around them have different behaviors and attitudes.. For the expert, it is essential “to choose a time when we are not pressed for time so that the child can assimilate and integrate the information peacefully” and “to use simple and accessible words to describe the pathology” as well as the care recommended by doctors.
Other advice from the specialist after the announcement: “If the child asks questions, it shows that he is ready to know more. In this case, you should not avoid the subject and give him an answer, even if you don’t have it. On the other hand, if he doesn’t ask for anything, there’s no need to discuss it with him.”.
To help little ones understand the situation, it is also possible to turn to children’s books or videos on the subject. And in case of difficulty, do not hesitate to consult a psychologist.
A message from Catherine, The Princess of Wales pic.twitter.com/5LQT1qGarK
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 22, 2024