Entertainment
Susanna Reid, 52, admits Sarah Ferguson’s breast cancer is ‘wake-up call’ after she ignored routine screening invite-Emily Bashforth-Entertainment – Metro
Susanna will now be booking an appointment for a routine screening.
Susanna Reid praised Sarah Ferguson for speaking out about her breast cancer (Picture: AP/ITV)
Susanna Reid has reflected on Sarah Ferguson’s breast cancer diagnosis and how it was a ‘wake-up call’ for her.
The Duchess of York revealed this week that she discovered her cancer after a routine mammogram.
She’s said to have had no symptoms, but needed persuading by her sister, Jane Ferguson, to go for her routine screening.
Following surgery, Sarah, 63, was discharged from a London hospital on Sunday and is recovering with her family in Windsor.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain on Monday, Susanna, 52, praised the royal for speaking about her diagnosis publicly.
‘This morning we want to send our best wishes to the Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, because she has revealed – this has come as quite a shock – that she’s undergone surgery because of breast cancer,’ Susanna began.
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‘It was a routine mammogram on a Tuesday two weeks ago, she said on her podcast. She’s now out of surgery, but that’s remarkably fast, isn’t it? Two weeks ago she had the mammogram, she said she was reluctant to go, it’s been very hot weather, it was a bit of an inconvenience, her sister said, “You have to go.”
‘I think the reason that she’s open about this is she wants this to be a wake-up call to people.’
Susanna continued: ‘I hadn’t realised, that there was a change in policy and screening, around seven months ago, back in September, where appointments used to be sent out for mammograms, now it’s an invitation, apparently, to make an appointment.
‘As a result, around, just in London, 12,000 women are estimated to have missed out on breast screenings because of that new open invitations system.
‘Now, I received one of those letters, an invitation to go. And, of course, what have I done? Absolutely nothing. I haven’t booked in a mammogram. And I’m 52.’
The royal discovered her cancer after a routine screening (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
‘I absolutely should take that up,’ she declared, with co-host Ed Ball agreeing: ‘You should go.’
‘I think there will be a lot of women this morning, finding out what has happened to Sarah Ferguson, feeling the same way I did – there isn’t really a firm appointment, I haven’t got time to make one, who will be thinking differently.’
She concluded by sending her ‘best wishes’ to Sarah as she rests and recovers
Cameras then cut to correspondent Jonathan Swain in Windsor, who assured ‘everything’s looking good’ for Sarah.
‘Doctors have said that the prognosis is good after she underwent surgery at King Edward VII hospital in London last week,’ he explained.
‘She’s in good hands, of course, because that is a hospital that’s been looking after the Royal Family for decades.’
Susanna has implored other women to get screened after also ignoring her invitation to make an appointment (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
Sarah herself is also encouraging others to get breast screenings as a just in case.
Speaking on her podcast, the royal said: ‘Cancer can be so silent. Such a silent, silent little hiding thing that hides in the cells.
‘Go and get screened. Go get checked. Don’t wait.’
Good Morning Britain airs at 6am, weekdays on ITV1 and ITVX.
Macmillan cancer support
If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with cancer, Macmillan can offer support and information.
You can contact their helpline on 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week from 8am to 8pm), use their webchat service, or visit their site for more information.
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