Everything we know about Kate Middleton’s cancer battle

In March of this year, the world collectively learned that Catherine, Princess of Wales had been diagnosed with cancer. 
The announcement came in the form of a video statement released by Kensington Palace, in which the Princess of Wales shared the reason behind her recent absence from the public eye. 
She shared that although the news came as a “huge shock” to both her and William, she is in good spirits and “getting stronger every day.” Today, we have had a new update from the royal.
Watch the video above.
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Catherine did not share the form of cancer that she was diagnosed with, however, over the past few months, some more details about her condition have come to light. 
Here’s everything we know so far about Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer battle. 
On September 10, Catherine announced that she had finished chemotherapy and is now focusing on fully recovering from the disease.
The 42-year-old said she was “entering a new phase of recovery” and that her illness had given her a “new perspective on everything,” in the heartwarming personal video.
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Catherine said she was “looking forward to undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months”, but that her focus would be on “doing what I can to stay cancer-free”.
The royal added that her “cancer journey” had been “complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone”, and that it brought patients “face to face with your own vulnerabilities in a way you have never considered before”.
In her video statement in March, Catherine explained that her cancer diagnosis came as a “huge shock” to both her and her family.
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“This of course came as a huge shock,” she explained. “William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family.”
The devastating news came just two months after it was announced that Catherine’s father-in-law, King Charles III, had been diagnosed with cancer too. 
On January 16, Catherine went into hospital for “planned abdominal surgery,” and when she didn’t return to the public eye for several weeks, rumours surrounding her health began to take over. 
We now know the reason for her absence, and in her video statement Catherine revealed that the cancer was actually found during that surgery. 
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“At the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous,” she explained. “The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present.”
Catherine assured the public that she is “going to be OK,” explaining that she was taking the advice of her “fantastic medical team.”
She revealed in the March video that upon discovering the cancer, her doctors recommended that she undergo a course of “preventative chemotherapy,” which she has now finished.
In the weeks prior to Catherine’s video statement being released, speculation was rife as to her whereabouts.
Rumours were circulating regarding her health, and many royal watchers were wondering why there was no statement released earlier to put the speculation to rest. 
But it turns out there was a reason that Catherine and William waited so long to reveal her diagnosis.
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In her statement, Catherine shared that upon receiving the diagnosis the most important thing to her and William was to navigate the situation in a way that allowed for their three children to understand what was going on. 
“Most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be OK,” she said. 
BBC royal correspondent Daniela Relph told the BBC that the timing of the announcement was “completely driven by trying to protect the children,” with the video being released just mere hours after George, Charlotte, and Louis broke up from school for the Easter holidays. 
”It was felt that this was the moment to go public because they are now able to protect them as parents, protect their children from the scrutiny and the spotlight that might have been going on had they still been at school,” Relph told BBC News.
“They now have two to three weeks to spend some time privately as a family, the Prince and Princess of Wales had wanted to make sure they tell the children properly appropriately about this diagnosis and give them time to take that in.”
Catherine’s diagnosis came just two months after Charles shared his own cancer diagnosis, and it’s said that he supported the Princess through her battle.
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Catherine’s cancer was found during her stay at The London Clinic for an abdominal surgery. Similarly, Charles discovered he had cancer during his surgery in January at that same hospital.
In a statement issued by a spokesperson of Buckingham Palace to People, it was revealed that Charles has been a beacon of support for the Princess of Wales. 
Charles is reported to have been “so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did.”
The monarch had “remained in the closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law throughout the past weeks,” the spokesperson told the publication in March. 
They shared that both Charles and Queen Camilla “will continue to offer their love and support to the whole family through this difficult time.”
Most importantly, Catherine has repeatedly assured the public that she is going to be OK.
“I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits,” she shared in her original video statement.
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“Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too. As is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both,” she said at the time.
At the end of her statement, Catherine asked for understanding from the public that she and her family need privacy as she completes her treatment. 
“My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy,” she said. “And I look forward to being back when I am able, but for now I must focus on making a full recovery.”
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