By Amy Glover
This Wednesday, the Princess of Wales visited the cancer wellbeing centre at Colchester Hospital.
Speaking to the patients there, the royal 鈥 who is in remission from cancer, and said in an Instagram post earlier this year that it would 鈥渢ake time to adjust to a new normal,鈥 despite her 鈥渞elief鈥 鈥 gave an insight into her recovery journey.
鈥淵ou put on a sort of brave face, stoicism through treatment… but actually the phase afterwards is really difficult,鈥 she said.
鈥淭here is a whole phase when you finish your treatment, everybody expects you to be better 鈥 go! But that鈥檚 not the case at all.鈥
The Princess continued, 鈥淵ou鈥檙e not necessarily under the clinical team any longer but you鈥檙e not able to function normally at home as you perhaps once used to.
鈥淎nd actually someone to help talk you through that, show you and guide you through that sort of phase that comes after treatment I think is really valuable.鈥
Speaking to HuffPost UK, Dany Bell, Strategic Adviser Cancer Care at Macmillan Cancer Support, said: 鈥淲e are deeply moved by the Princess of Wales鈥檚 words about her personal experience with cancer.
鈥淗er honesty and courage in sharing what it鈥檚 been like for her; the fear, the uncertainty, and the impact on family life, echo what we hear every day from people living with cancer across the UK.鈥
They added that cancer can impact every aspect of a person鈥檚 life, even after it鈥檚 been treated.
Meanwhile, Caroline Geraghty, specialist cancer information nurse at Cancer Research UK, wished the Princess of Wales all the best on behalf of the charity.
鈥淐ancer can have a long-lasting impact on every aspect of someone鈥檚 life, and everyone will have a different experience of recovery, so it鈥檚 important that people are given as much time and support as they need,鈥 she said.
鈥淗er Royal Highness has shown enormous courage in sharing her experience of a disease that affects so many of us, reminding us to reflect on our own health and listen to our bodies when something doesn鈥檛 feel right.鈥
The nurse urged people to seek medical help if they notice something鈥檚 off. Even though it鈥檚 unlikely to be cancer, she advises, you鈥檙e better safe than sorry.
And Macmillan stresses that support is available for all people who have experienced or are experiencing cancer.
鈥淲e鈥檙e here for everyone from diagnosis to beyond treatment, in person, online and via our free, confidential Support Line every day of the week on 0808 808 00 00,鈥 they shared.