COLCHESTER, July 2, 2025
Beyond Treatment-The Mental toll of recovery
Princess Catherine highlights the often-overlooked struggles after cancer treatment.
- Princess Catherine speaks candidly about post-chemotherapy recovery.
- She emphasizes the life-changing impact of cancer on patients and families.
- The Princess highlights the importance of finding a “new normal.”
- Nature’s healing power plays a significant role in her recovery.
In Essex, Princess Catherine shared insights about the long-term challenges of recovering from chemotherapy, noting that the phase after treatment can be “really difficult,” reminding us that cancer recovery is a gradual path to healing.
Life After Cancer
Princess Catherine recently visited a hospital in Essex, marking her first public engagement since taking a step back from Royal Ascot to prioritize her well-being. During her visit, she connected with patients, sharing her experiences and offering words of encouragement. The Princess openly discussed the realities of life after cancer treatment.
She emphasized that while one might “put on a sort of brave face” during treatment, the subsequent period can be surprisingly challenging. “You’re not able to function normally at home as you perhaps once used to,” Catherine shared with patients.
Finding a New Normal
Catherine described the common expectation that life should promptly return to normal after treatment. She noted, “There is this whole phase when you finish your treatment that you, yourself, everybody, expects you, right you’ve finished your time, go, you’re better, and that’s not the case at all.”
She continued, “You have to find your new normal and that takes time… and its a rollercoaster it’s not one smooth plane, which you expect it to be. But the reality is it’s not, you go through hard times.”
Did you know? In January, Princess Catherine announced she was in remission from cancer, which had been diagnosed last year.
One patient shared their experiance, saying, “It can be very discombobulating, in that time when you’ve finished active treatment. Your reality has completely changed.”
The Importance of Support
Royal sources indicate that Catherine’s comments on Tuesday serve as a vital message of support to former cancer patients navigating the complexities of recovery.This is a life-changing experience for both the patient and their families.
the princess also highlighted the frequently enough-overlooked impact on loved ones, stating, “And actually it sometimes goes unrecognised, you don’t necessarily, particularly when it’s the first time, appreciate how much impact it is indeed going to have.”
Nature as a Sanctuary
catherine’s visit included time spent in a “well-being garden” at Colchester, designed to harness the therapeutic benefits of nature to aid patient recovery. She spoke of the profound impact of the natural world on her own healing process, describing nature as her “sanctuary.”
The healing power of nature has been a source of strength for her during her return from illness.
In May, the Royal Horticultural society launched a “Catherine’s rose” to raise funds for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, at a hospital where the princess had been treated. During her visit to Colchester Hospital, Catherine helped plant 50 of these roses, which were donated to the hospital.
The well-being garden at the hospital provides a serene environment for patients to relax and recuperate, promoting both physical and mental well-being through connection with nature.
Princess Catherine’s candid discussion about the post-treatment phase highlights a crucial aspect of cancer recovery: the impact on mental health. While physical recovery is often the primary focus, the emotional and psychological toll can be meaningful and long-lasting.
The emotional struggles during cancer recovery can include anxiety, fear
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