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Sarah Ferguson's Double Cancer Diagnosis Influences Her Daughters To Fight For Young Victims

Sarah Ferguson's Double Cancer Diagnosis Influences Her Daughters To Fight For Young Victims

Yahoo23-04-2025

Sarah Ferguson's double cancer diagnosis has only fueled her desire to help others in similar situations, with her two daughters joining the noble cause.
The Duchess of York, nicknamed Fergie, is famous for her philanthropic efforts, including a decades-long dedication to the Teenage Cancer Trust. The foundation resonated deeply with the British Royal Family member, who continues to raise awareness for young people with cancer.
Sarah Ferguson gained her title following her then-marriage to Prince Andrew, Duke of York. She welcomed two daughters with her ex-husband, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, who now support the cancer charity foundation.
Ferguson addressed her double cancer diagnosis in a recent interview, noting the heartbreaking news "felt like a death sentence." She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023 and underwent a single mastectomy before receiving a diagnosis of malignant melanoma six months later in January 2024.
However, the Duchess of York did not let her double diagnosis break her and channeled the negative energy into something positive. She focused on supporting young cancer victims through the Teenage Cancer Trust, which influenced her two daughters to support the charity.
She addressed her children's move to join her noble cause ahead of a joint outing with them to raise awareness for young people with cancer. "I was 63 when I was diagnosed with cancer for the first time, and cancer at any age is traumatic," Ferguson told The Times, adding:
"But as adults, we have maturity and life experience to help us advocate for ourselves and cope with challenges. We can seek help if we need it, and most importantly, your voices are, sadly, often taken more seriously."
Ferguson, Princess Beatrice, and Princess Eugenie shall visit teenage cancer victims at a facility in London on Wednesday, April 23. The proud mother noted the outing held a special place in her heart, not only because her children supported her goal but to raise awareness for the young souls suffering.
"It's incredibly important to me to seek to amplify the voices and experiences of people with cancer who receive less attention, whose voices are not listened to, and who can be overlooked," Ferguson explained.
She noted these young victims were "consistently neglected by those developing health plans and policies." Ferguson stressed that young people, especially teenagers and young adults, were disadvantaged.
"This is because they are more likely to experience rare cancers or are too old to take part in pediatric trials and too young for adult trials," she explained. "We must find solutions to these challenges and save more young lives."
While launching the new Youth Impact Council at New York Climate Week in September 2024, Ferguson opened up about her feelings following her double cancer diagnosis. At the time, she told PEOPLE, "I think that you never really get rid of the worry about health." Confessing further, she said:
"For every sort of melanoma, you never really know where it is. You look at everything, and you're certainly more aware. It's been an extraordinary journey to have gone through a mastectomy, and then you have to keep having checks, and then you think you're going to get it again. It's a lot of very fragile mind work."
She doubled down on her health battles, paving the way for understanding the struggles of younger victims, saying: "I think that also gives me empathy to understand the fragility of the mind. A lot of young people have fragile, vulnerable times, with cyberbullying and chronic cruelty from other people."
A year before her cancer awareness efforts with her daughters, The Blast covered Ferguson's reaction to King Charles and Kate Middleton's cancer diagnosis. She applauded the duo for being honest about their experiences, noting:
"They are an example to all families going through their own journeys of health."
Kate's chemotherapy video struck a chord with Ferguson, who hailed the Princess of Wales for her moving words. "I love how the Princess reassured everyone, saying, I'm always there for you. I love that video. It was a beautiful video with beautiful words," the Duchess of York chimed.
Additionally, Ferguson reflected on King Charles' first public appearance after revealing his cancer diagnosis. He visited the Macmillan Cancer Centre at University College Hospital in London, with the Duchess labeling his move "very brave" and "very courageous."
Ferguson's sweet comments about King Charles and Kate might stem from the support she received following her second cancer diagnosis. After announcing her malignant melanoma, the monarch reportedly supported the Duchess of York by sending her a heartfelt letter.
At the time, a source claimed the move strengthened the bond between Ferguson and the King, saying: "The King and Sarah are incredibly fond of one another, and now they have bonded over their respective cancer diagnosis with an exchange of letters."
"Cancer is a wicked disease that affects so many individuals and their families, and it's clear that extra support from loved ones and the extended cancer community can help immeasurably," the source added.
Will more members of the Royal Family join Sarah Ferguson's efforts to raise awareness for young people with cancer?

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Just how psychopathic are surgeons?
Just how psychopathic are surgeons?

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time14 hours ago

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Just how psychopathic are surgeons?

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King Charles Gets the Keys to the Castle in Lancaster — and Keeps Up the Pace amid Cancer Treatment
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King Charles Gets the Keys to the Castle in Lancaster — and Keeps Up the Pace amid Cancer Treatment

King Charles greets crowds during a visit to Lancaster Castle in northwest England The 76-year-old monarch is carrying out a day of engagements amid ongoing cancer treatment He's set to lead the royal family at Trooping the Colour on Saturday, riding in a carriage instead of on horsebackKing Charles arrived at Lancaster Castle on June 9 to take part in a historic ceremony as he prepares to lead the family at the Trooping the Colour parade on June 14. The monarch, 76, was warmly welcomed by schoolchildren, well-wishers and a military band serenade as he arrived for a day packed with official engagements in northwest England. At the historic castle, Charles took part in the Ceremony of the Keys, a tradition dating back to 1851 under Queen Victoria. Notably, in 2015, his late mother, Queen Elizabeth, was presented with the keys in a similar ceremony at the site. The King has been keeping an active timetable of duties despite his ongoing cancer treatment. The visit comes amid a period for the royal family. On June 14, Charles will lead the family at the annual Trooping the Colour parade. The monarch will ride in a carriage, rather than on horseback, for the second year in a row, Buckingham Palace confirmed to PEOPLE. Senior royals will also gather for the Order of the Garter service on June 16. The King, who completed a two-day visit to Canada with Camilla in late May, is undergoing regular cancer treatment that is enabling him to continue with his duties. After the end of that visit, in which he opened the Canadian parliament, aides said, "The thing you learn about this illness is that you just manage it, and that's what he does." 'Medical science has made incredible advances, and I genuinely see no difference in him," the aide added at the time. "As long as you just do what the doctors say, just live your life as normal as possible. That's exactly what he is doing." Monday's visit is part of celebrations honoring the county that gives its name to the Duchy of Lancaster. Since 1399, the Duchy — covering over 41,000 acres across Cheshire, Lancashire, Staffordshire, Southern Yorkshire, and more — has been a private estate held by the reigning monarch. (It parallels the Duchy of Cornwall, which supports Prince William's work and lifestyle as heir to the throne.) Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! Inside the castle grounds, Charles met local businesses showcasing regional specialties such as farmhouse cheeses, breed-specific wool yarns supporting the British wool industry and handcrafted furniture. Charles met businesses like and view displays showcasing their work in the region, including a farmhouse cheeses company, and an enterprise that makes breed-specific yarns that help to support the British wool industry and a furniture maker. Later, at a reception, the King connected with volunteers and staff from across the county, including representatives from Escape 2 Make, an organization offering creative workshops to support young people facing life's pressures. He also spoke with members of St John's Hospice, the Lancaster Literature Festival and a local World War II veteran. Read the original article on People

Hospital and medic convicted over patient death
Hospital and medic convicted over patient death

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A hospital trust and a staff member have been found guilty of health and safety failings over the death of a young woman in a mental health unit. Alice Figueiredo, 22, was being treated at Goodmayes Hospital, east London, when she took her own life in July 2015, having previously made many similar attempts. Following a seven-month trial at the Old Bailey, a jury found that not enough was done by the North East London Foundation NHS Trust (NELFT) or ward manager Benjamin Aninakwa to prevent Alice from killing herself. The trust was cleared of the more serious charge of corporate manslaughter, while Aninakwa, 53, of Grays in Essex, was cleared of gross negligence manslaughter. The jury deliberated for 24 days to reach all the verdicts, setting a joint record in the history of British justice, according to the Crown Prosecution Service. Both the trust and Aninakwa were convicted under the Health and Safety at Work Act. It was only the second time an NHS trust has faced a corporate manslaughter charge. Speaking directly to Alice's mother and stepfather after the verdict, Judge Richard Marks KC said it was clear from the evidence that she was an extremely special young woman and "their immense love for her had been very apparent". He also said he hoped they felt the case had been dealt with fully and that would "provide some consolation". This article contains material that some may find distressing. If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this story, support and advice is available via the BBC Action Line. Alice was admitted to a mental health ward at Goodmayes Hospital in Ilford in February 2015. She was under close observation on the Hepworth Ward, then managed by Aninakwa. In the five months leading up to her death, she attempted suicide using plastic or bin bags on 18 occasions, mostly taking bin bags from the same shared toilet, the Old Bailey heard. The hospital had previously acknowledged the risk to patients of keeping bin bags on the ward and they were subsequently taken out of patient bedrooms. However, despite warnings from Alice's family, they were not removed from the communal toilet, which was left unlocked. On 7 July 2015, at her 19th attempt, she took her own life using a bin bag taken from the toilet. During the trial, prosecutors said that not only was Alice repeatedly able to self-harm while she was in hospital, but that these incidents were not properly recorded or assessed. The court also heard there were concerns about Aninakwa's communication, efficiency, clinical and leadership skills. The trust had previously placed him on a performance improvement plan for three years, which ended in December 2014. In addition, there was a high turnover of agency staff on the ward, the court heard. Alice's mother Jane Figueiredo described the "intense pain" of being told about her death, saying it was the moment when "your entire life changes forever". Her family prefer to remember the clever, creative, musical and funny young woman, who they say was full of life. "She had the most amazing quick wit and sense of humour," Mrs Figueiredo said. "She used to be able to make me laugh more than anybody in the world. And I really miss that." Alice had experienced periods of deep depression since she was a teenager and also developed an eating disorder. She was admitted to hospital on several occasions and her condition had always improved after treatment, her family said. Her stepfather Max Figueiredo said it was a question of managing her illness and "trusting the medical profession to make the right decisions". Mrs Figueiredo says she raised concerns about her daughter's care verbally and in writing on a number of occasions to the hospital and to Mr Aninakwa. After Alice died, she said the family found it very difficult to get answers about what happened. For nearly a decade they gathered evidence and pressed both the police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to take action. NELFT is only the second NHS trust in England to have been charged with corporate manslaughter, with the only previous prosecution collapsing after two weeks. It is particularly hard to bring corporate manslaughter charges against a large, complex organisation, says Dr Victoria Roper – an associate professor at Northumbria University, who studies this area of the law. This is due to their complex organisational structures, says Dr Victoria Roper, a corporate lawyer and associate professor at Northumbria University. Corporate manslaughter charges are "reserved for the very worst management failings leading to death," she says. The larger the organisation, the more difficult it is to show that senior management have had "any hands-on involvement in events". However, she says public bodies, the police and the CPS will be keeping a close eye on this case to see what can be learned from it. Mental health campaigners believe Alice's case highlights the poor care too many mental health patients receive. Lucy Schonegevel, director of policy and practice at the mental health charity Rethink, says it is a "devastating reminder that we don't yet have a mental health system fit for the 21st century" and "people expect to be looked after and kept safe" on an inpatient unit. But she says the charity is aware of many cases of patients being failed. Alice's family believes any failing in cases such as hers must be transparent if they are to lead to improvements in mental health care, and they say they will keep pressing for that. "It's never been about vengeance," Mr Figueiredo says. "It's always been about justice and truth and accountability. "That's what has driven us." The trust was found guilty of failing to provide mental health in-patient services in such a way as to ensure that persons not in its employment, namely the patients, were not exposed to risks to their health or safety in connection with the use for acts of self-harm of bin liners or similar plastic bags on an acute psychiatric ward. Akinawa was found guilty of failure to take reasonable care for the health and safety of other persons affected by his acts or omissions at work, namely the patients, by taking no sufficient steps to remove bin bags from the ward that were accessible to and capable of use for acts of self-harm, and failing to ensure that incitements of self-harm were recorded, considered and addressed. Listen to the best of BBC Radio London on Sounds and follow BBC London on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to Removing patient risks on wards not simple - court Manslaughter trial ward manager 'soft and gentle' Staff would not have foreseen patient death - court North East London NHS Foundation Trust HM Courts and Tribunals Service

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