By Gina Kolata
On Tuesday, Princess Catherine, spouse of Prince William, announced that her cancer has entered remission. But what does being in remission from cancer actually signify?
Her cancer diagnosis came as a surprise in March during abdominal surgery. She has not disclosed the specific type of cancer nor the stage at which it was diagnosed.
However, she mentioned undergoing chemotherapy, which she indicated finished in September. Catherine shared with PA Media that she had a port, a small device implanted beneath the skin linked to a catheter entering a major vein. This setup allows for the direct delivery of chemotherapy drugs into the chest veins, minimizing the need for needles.
Catherine described the chemotherapy experience to PA Media as “really tough.”
“It is a relief to now be in remission, and I am committed to my recovery,” she stated on Instagram.
According to Dr. Kimmie Ng, associate chief of the gastrointestinal oncology division at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, her announcement “certainly is good news and offers reassurance.”
However, experts like Ng explain that the concept of remission can differ among patients.
Typically, remission is discussed by doctors and patients to indicate that there is no sign of cancer in laboratory tests or imaging studies.
The issue is that complete remission does not necessarily mean the cancer has been eradicated. Even when a cancer is defined as “cured”—indicated by the absence of cancer evidence for five years—it may still persist.
This uncertainty creates emotional challenges for patients, who must undergo frequent oncologist visits for check-ups, blood tests, and imaging.
“It’s really frightening,” Ng remarked. “The level of uncertainty is extremely difficult,” she added.
Despite the emotional toll, such continued monitoring is essential.
“Different types of cancers have varying likelihoods of recurrence,” Dr. Elena Ratner, a gynecologic oncologist at the Yale Cancer Center, noted.
Ratner indicated that up to 75% to 80% of ovarian cancers can resurface typically within 14 to 16 months post-remission, contingent on the cancer’s stage at diagnosis and its biological characteristics.
“Once the cancer comes back, it transitions into a chronic condition,” Ratner explained. She informs her patients, “You will live with this cancer. You will experience cycles of chemotherapy throughout your life.”
Her gynecological cancer patients are required to return every three months for CT scans to monitor any signs of cancer recurrence.
“The women exist from CT scan to CT scan,” she said. “They report having an excellent life for two and a half months, but as the time for the next CT scan approaches, the apprehension returns.
“It takes a toll on them. A significant one,” she said.
“It’s terrible, yet I am continually inspired by their resilience,” she expressed regarding her patients.
