Sarah Ferguson
Confidant reveals how she deals with cancer
Sarah Ferguson
© MediaPunch/Bauer-Griffin / Getty Images
Sarah Ferguson recently revealed her breast cancer. Now a friend has revealed how the Duchess of York is coping with her illness.
“I do not like it”
Daphne Barak, who met Sarah Ferguson in a 1992 TV interview, recalls in the “Daily Mirror: “I was at my home in California on May 11th when Sarah first mentioned that something was wrong.” Barak’s mother died of breast cancer. So she knows how difficult it can be to deal with the disease. In the middle of the night, Barak received a message from Ferguson that she would have to undergo “small surgery” the following week. “I like that not,” Barak replied.
Small lump discovered during routine examination
The mother of Princess Beatrice, 34, and Princess Eugenie, 33, then explained that a small lump in her breast was discovered early on in a routine mammogram. At first, Barak saw little cause for concern and hoped that this small concern would remain. Ferguson insisted that things should go on as planned for her in the future: As part of her charity, Prince Andrew’s ex-wife, 63, traveled to Colombia and was happy a little later about the birth of her grandchild Ernest, who was her daughter Eugenie gave birth at the end of May.
“Even I was surprised by her courage”
But a biopsy showed that it was indeed cancer. “My heart stopped,” said Barak. “How could this have happened to my kind, loving friend?” Despite the diagnosis, Ferguson remained focused and factual. There was only one option: a mastectomy, which the Duchess of York underwent the following Tuesday. “I’m close to Sarah, but even I was surprised by her courage in the face of such ordeal,” Barak recalled. “Lightening my mood seemed more important to her than her own diagnosis.”
Sarah Ferguson underwent a mastectomy
Barak offered to travel to her from the US, but Ferguson assured her that she was in good hands. Her sister Jane had traveled from Australia and her daughters also gave her comfort. “When the day of the mastectomy came, I could tell she was nervous,” Barak continues. When she got word that Ferguson was back home after surgery, she sent her a bouquet of flowers in her favorite color, purple. “When I spoke to her a day later, she seemed shocked but determined. She assured me that she was confident that she would pull through,” Barak said. Despite her great optimism, Sarah Ferguson is clear and realistic: “If anyone has the courage to tackle it, it’s her.”
Source used: dailymail.co.uk