Sarah Ferguson Becomes Patron of Breast Cancer Charity After Diagnosis Last Year: 'Doing All That I Can'
"I’m living proof of the importance of never skipping screening appointments and always getting symptoms checked out promptly," the Duchess of York said
Prevent Breast Cancer
Sarah Ferguson was announced as patron of Prevent Breast Cancer on Oct. 9, 2024.Sarah Ferguson is the proud new patron of the U.K.'s only charity solely focused on predicting and preventing breast cancer.
On Oct. 9, the Duchess of York, 64, announced that she was "honored" to become the patron of Prevent Breast Cancer. The Duchess of York, who is popularly known as Fergie, was diagnosed with breast cancer and successfully underwent a single mastectomy in 2023 and has since used her platform to advocate for the importance of early cancer detection through screenings.
"Today I’m honoured to be joining a wonderful charity, Prevent Breast Cancer, as patron, and will be doing all that I can to help spread the word about the importance of early detection," Fergie wrote on Instagram.
The announcement came on the same day that she visited The Nightingale Centre at Wythenshawe Hospital in Manchester, England, which is the charity's home and site of its future the National Breast Imaging Academy.
Prevent Breast Cancer
Sarah Ferguson (center) was announced as patron of Prevent Breast Cancer on Oct. 9, 2024."It is so difficult when you’re told that you have cancer, not to let your mind go to the darkest places. You can’t help thinking that it’s a death sentence, and the dread of what lies ahead and how you are going to share the news with your family can be overwhelming," her Instagram statement continued. The Duchess of York acknowledged that this was something she had to navigate twice in the last year.
In January, she shared that she was diagnosed with malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer, following a post-operative analysis of a mole removed during reconstructive surgery following her mastectomy. (In March, a source told PEOPLE that the Duchess of York was "very relieved" to learn that her skin cancer had not spread.)
"One cancer diagnosis was bad enough but to go through all those emotions twice in such quick succession was a lot to handle, and while treatment has been successful and tests show there has been no spread or recurrence, I’m aware I’m not out of the woods and will have to have checks for the rest of my life," Fergie wrote on Oct. 8, seemingly referring to both diagnoses.
The Duchess of York said she was introduced to Prevent Breast Cancer through Sally Dynevor on Loose Women. The Coronation Street actress is a fellow breast cancer survivor (and mom to Bridgerton star Phoebe Dynevor). From there, Fergie was determined to getting involved to help amplify their message of raising awareness around early detection.
Prevent Breast Cancer
Sarah Ferguson was announced as patron of Prevent Breast Cancer on Oct. 9, 2024.Prevent Breast Cancer is the "only U.K. charity committed solely to predicting and preventing breast cancer," its website says, with an emphasis on protecting future generations. The organization is fundraising for a new National Breast Imaging Academy, which will help train 50 new breast imaging specialists and boost screening capacity by 13,000 appointments in Manchester each year.
Construction on the hub is set to start in November, and about $784,000 is needed for the final fundraising leg.
The Duchess of York called it a "pleasure" to meet patients at the The Nightingale Centre in Wythenshawe, and emphasized that the upcoming academy will lead to new research, train more specialists and alleviate current delays in treatment.
Speaking to PEOPLE during the launch of the new Youth Impact Council at New York Climate Week on Sept. 25, Fergie shared how she is feeling today.
"I think that you never really get rid of the worry about health. For every sort of melanoma, you never really know where it is. You look at everything and you’re certainly more aware," says the Duchess. "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."
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"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. I think that’s something I address, I am adamant about cruelty through social media," she continued. "My health is really good now, but you have to be a bit more cognitive and not push yourself too much, which I do."
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is marked globally each October, and Fergie wrote for The Sun about why her new patronage of Prevent Breast Cancer means so much.
"I’m living proof of the importance of never skipping screening appointments and always getting symptoms checked out promptly," she said.
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