Sarah Ferguson Opens Up About Her Breast Cancer Treatment and Why She is Missing Her Grandchildren
In June, the Duchess of York revealed that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer following a routine mammogram and had undergone a mastectomy. And now she has shared an update on her treatment and recovery as well as further insights into her family life with daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
In an episode of her podcast Tea Talks, which she hosts alongside her friend, businesswoman Sarah Thomson, Fergie shared how she would usually be away with family at this time year but she didn’t feel strong enough to travel. But she showed that she is in good spirits by joking that she has named her reconstructed breast Derek, which she described as a “perky friend.”
“Normally I’m always away, normally I’m in sunny Spain seeing you,” the Duchess said. “It is really extraordinary and something to get used to, a new balance; it’s OK but you just can’t at the moment. I just don’t feel strong enough to make the travel at the moment. I’m just coming to terms with my new best friend Derek on my left, he’s called Derek. And he’s very important because he saved my life.”
When asked why she named her breast Derek, Fergie responded, “I don’t know it just made me laugh that I have a friend who’s with me all the time who’s protecting me with his shield of armor. I’m getting much better and I think I’ll be traveling soon but it won’t be for a month.” She continued, “I’m really proud that I’ve got a perky friend here on my left. Poor Eric on the right is feeling rather sad because he’s not as perky as Derek on the left but you know, whatever. I’ll get Eric balanced, don’t worry.”
The Duchess, who lives in Royal Lodge in the grounds of Windsor Castle in a home she still shares with her ex husband Prince Andrew, also told how she has been spending time “sitting outside in the rain with the dogs,” presumably referring to the late Queen Elizabeth’s corgis that the York family now looks after.
“Eugenie is on holiday with little Ernie…and August and they’re away on holiday which is fantastic,” Sarah said. “But because of the recent operations, blah blah blah, traveling is not very easy at the moment so yes I’m missing them terribly, especially since August loves his puddle jumping! Beatrice is away too and she’s got the lovely Wolfie and Sienna,” Sarah said referring to Beatrice’s stepson Wolfie. “It’s all very good news. I’m delighted that my children who work so hard are able to have their pods of their own family. And now they’re living the dream and they’re living their dreams.”
The Tea Talks episode was about balance, and Sarah, 63, took the opportunity to talk about when her children were younger how she combined being a mother with work. “True leadership comes from doing it yourself. And Beatrice always says, mum thank goodness at five ‘o’ clock on Sundays you put on your camel coat and went to work. Because now I have to go to work and I work very hard, and I put on my camel coat and I think of the leadership you showed me.”
Sarah added about her philosophy, “My balance in life is to literally focus on joy.”
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