Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, received a "swift kick in the butt" when she was diagnosed with two forms of cancer. The 64-year-old author underwent a single mastectomy after being diagnosed with breast cancer last June and on New Year's Eve (31.12.
24), she was told she had also developed skin cancer, and now she has put her treatment behind her, she is determined to live life to the full and showcase her "huge personality". She told Britain's HELLO! magazine: "I think it woke me up. It gave me a swift kick in the butt and told me: 'Right, are you going to start living now, at 64, or are you going to keep on not quite living?' You don't have to be what everyone wants you to be: just be yourself.
"One of the only people who saw me properly was the Queen and before she died, she said: 'Sarah, being yourself is enough.’ Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion. "I haven't shown my huge personality properly, because I've tried to keep it under the cushion.
'It's too much,' or: 'Shut up, no one wants to hear from you.' I remember my father telling me: 'You're a bore.' And now I'm just not excusing myself any more.
" Sarah has been warned not to use the phrase "cancer-free" and will have regular check ups, but her outlook is positive and she's "very grateful" not to need further invasive treatment. She said: "I have to be checked regularly and I have to put cream on my face to get out past sun damage, which means big blisters on my fac.