Susanna Reid discusses Sarah Ferguson’s breast cancer diagnosis and how it served as a “wake-up call” for her.
The Duchess of York confirmed this week that she was diagnosed with cancer during a regular mammography.
Her sister, Jane Ferguson, is alleged to have persuaded her to attend for her regular test despite the fact that she had no symptoms.
Sarah, 63, was released from a London hospital on Sunday and is recuperating with her family in Windsor.
Susanna, 52, complimented the princess for openly disclosing her diagnosis on Good Morning Britain on Monday.
‘This morning we want to send our best wishes to the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, because she has revealed – this has come as quite a shock – that she’s undergone surgery because of breast cancer,’ Susanna began.
‘It was a routine mammogram on a Tuesday two weeks ago, she said on her podcast. She’s now out of surgery, but that’s remarkably fast, isn’t it? Two weeks ago she had the mammogram, she said she was reluctant to go, it’s been very hot weather, it was a bit of an inconvenience, her sister said, “You have to go.”
‘I think the reason that she’s open about this is she wants this to be a wake-up call to people.’
Susanna continued: ‘I hadn’t realised, that there was a change in policy and screening, around seven months ago, back in September, where appointments used to be sent out for mammograms, now it’s an invitation, apparently, to make an appointment.
‘As a result, around, just in London, 12,000 women are estimated to have missed out on breast screenings because of that new open invitations system.
‘Now, I received one of those letters, an invitation to go. And, of course, what have I done? Absolutely nothing. I haven’t booked in a mammogram. And I’m 52.’
‘I absolutely should take that up,’ she declared, with co-host Ed Ball agreeing: ‘You should go.’
‘I think there will be a lot of women this morning, finding out what has happened to Sarah Ferguson, feeling the same way I did – there isn’t really a firm appointment, I haven’t got time to make one, who will be thinking differently.’
She concluded by sending her ‘best wishes’ to Sarah as she rests and recovers
The cameras then went to journalist Jonathan Swain in Windsor, who told Sarah that “everything is looking okay.”
‘Doctors have said that the prognosis is good after she underwent surgery at King Edward VII hospital in London last week,’ he explained.
‘She’s in good hands, of course, because that is a hospital that’s been looking after the Royal Family for decades.’
Sarah is also pushing people to undergo breast tests as a precaution.
Speaking on her podcast, the royal said: ‘Cancer can be so silent. Such a silent, silent little hiding thing that hides in the cells.
‘Go and get screened. Go get checked. Don’t wait.’
Good Morning Britain airs at 6am, weekdays on ITV1 and ITVX.
Macmillan cancer support
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You can contact their helpline on 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week from 8am to 8pm), use their webchat service, or visit their site for more information.
