A leading oncologist believes the Princess of Wales is the type of person to cope “extremely well” with preventative chemotherapy, and there is “no doubt the chances of success are great”.
But Professor Karol Sikora noted that while drugs can control the sickness, there is no way to control the tiredness patients experience.
He warns the tiredness will be partly “emotional”, as a diagnosis is upsetting and treatments reduce time spent with loved ones.
Speaking after Friday’s shock announcement, Prof Sikora said: “Modern oncology is just tremendous.
“What we are trying to do is to assess the risk of tumour coming back and then tailor the treatment to the patient.
“It’s been decided there was a cancer there, it’s maybe a slightly risky cancer, therefore chemotherapy has been given.
“It’s not bad news or a disaster. It’s a bit of a shock for the family, for Kate, for us all.
“But there’s no doubt the chances of success are great.”
The former chief of the WHO’s Cancer Programme said: “Modern chemotherapy is actually not that bad, we have drugs to control sickness. But people do get very tired… [and] the number of visits to hospital, blood tests, scans and then the chemotherapy itself all consumes time away from your children, your family and, obviously, your job. So people do get disturbed by it.”
He told GB News: “She looks to me, I’ve never met her, as a real coper in life. She will get through this, there is no doubt in my mind. You can tell within 10 seconds of a new patient coming through the door how they will cope.
“She looks to me as somebody who will cope extremely well.”
The expert said that after chemotherapy, blood tests, scans or X-rays are reduced from every two to three months to six-month intervals “to make sure the cancer has been kept at bay”.
He added: “One in two of us is going to get cancer at some point.
“At the moment, 50 per cent survive and it’s getting better every year – so Kate’s message is conveying that.”
