After finishing chemotherapy treatment for cancer, Catherine Middleton, the Princess of Wales, aka Princess Catherine (or Princess Kate), shared another health update with the world in September of 2024.

True to her previous announcements, her words contained helpful insights for others facing cancer.

“As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment,” said Princess Catherine in a video with her husband, Prince William, and their three children, hiking and driving through the English countryside.

“The cancer journey is complex, scary, and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you,” she said.

Princess Catherine’s message, roughly 300 words in length, is filled with insights about the cancer journey. We noticed seven different truths she shared. To read them, skip to “Seven Truths About Cancer,” or for more background, keep reading.

You can watch her post-chemotherapy announcement here:

Background on her health

Princess Catherine first announced her cancer journey on social media in early 2024. She said doctors discovered cancer after an abdominal surgery. While she did not specify what type of cancer, she told people she would be undergoing treatment.

During the summer of 2024, she attended a few public events, but otherwise kept out of the public eye. Breaking the silence in September, she gave details of finishing treatment and glimpses into the mental and emotional challenges of cancer.

The words she shared in the video were strikingly honest and vulnerable, not something one would expect from such a high-profile person. It reminds us that something like cancer can strike anyone—even the rich and famous.

Seven truths about cancer

In her video, Princess Catherine announced she finished chemotherapy—a big milestone for anyone facing cancer treatment.

Beyond this news, she shared more details about the emotional experience, which included helpful words for others facing a similar journey.

Here are seven insightful truths about the cancer journey, as revealed by Princess Catherine’s post-chemotherapy video:

1. Cancer is a journey of great uncertainties.

“We’ve had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown,” said Princess Catherine.

This is true for many people facing cancer. While statistics and medical data can point to likely outcomes, the future remains cloudy and uncertain. This is true for everyone’s life, whether you have cancer or not—all our lives are fragile. But facing cancer underscores it more. And while Princess Catherine is still early in her experience, not knowing what is around the bend can be challenging for anyone. “Life as you know it can change in an instant,” she said.

2. Cancer is complex and scary.

“The cancer journey is complex, scary, and unpredictable,” said Princess Catherine.

Anyone who has faced it can relate. Cancer can cast a dark cloud over the sunny skies of life. When something is complex, it means it consists of many different and connected parts, which is an apt description of our complicated bodies and how quickly cancer can take away a person’s health. Princess Catherine also mentioned fear, which is a common and challenging emotion of the cancer journey. Even the bravest, or famous, can be brought low by cancer, as evidenced by Kate’s experience.

3. Cancer impacts those around you.

“Cancer…is unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you,” she said.

Being a member of the royal family, it can be easy to lose sight of the fact that Princess Catherine is more than a public figure. She is also a wife, mother, daughter and granddaughter. She is human, flesh and blood, just like the rest of us. When she received her cancer diagnosis, it rippled to her family and friends—all those in her circle who care about her. And especially to her husband and children, as the video showed, they are walking through the scary twists and turns together, for better or worse.

4. Cancer surfaces weaknesses.

“With humility, (cancer) also brings you face to face with your own vulnerabilities in a way you’ve never considered before,” she said.

Cancer can be a very humbling experience, as someone goes from being healthy to being sick. It places a person in an experience of weakness and fear that they would never choose, not to mention highlighting insecurities, old and new. While cancer may have revealed some of Princess Catherine’s vulnerabilities, it also shone a light on her humanity and kindness, as she was quick to offer encouraging words for others facing a similar journey.

5. Cancer can cause people to be grateful.

Cancer gives you a “new perspective on everything,” says Princess Catherine. “This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life.”

Many cancer survivors and their families have expressed similar sentiments: cancer can make you more grateful. As humans, we often fail to appreciate the things that are most precious to us, until they are threatened. Cancer comes and can clarify our priorities and help us appreciate that which we may have failed to previously. While no one wants to live with the uncertainty and fear of cancer, the upside is how it can teach a person to see every day as a gift, and to live it that way.

6. Cancer points to life’s greatest purpose: to love and be loved.

“This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life,” said Princess Catherine. “Simply loving and being loved.” Wow, perhaps Kate’s most powerful words were buried in the middle of her video! She summed up the purpose of life in four words: to “love and be loved.” Many poets and songwriters have penned similar lyrics extolling these ideas. And yet in our hectic and scattered lives, it can be easy to miss this truth: giving and receiving love through relationships are the most meaningful experience here on earth—with people and with God, our loving Creator.

7. Cancer points to our need for hope.

“I enter this new phase of recovery with a renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life,” said Princess Catherine.

Cancer often reveals life’s greatest need: hope. She was quick to share that finishing her treatment, surrounded by family, helped rebuild and renew her hope. And what is hope? Hope is a universal need; it’s the belief in a good outcome, one that gives us assurance for the future, even when our circumstances scream the opposite. Hope can provide the energy to keep moving, and believe we will see better days ahead. All of us, from the royal family to the commoner, need hope to get us through the day and look ahead with joy and expectation. That’s why hope is so important.

Finding hope

All these insights from Princess Catherine help shine a light on the cancer experience.

As you have read through them, which have you found to be the most helpful? Let us know by dropping us a quick note. 

The importance of spiritual hope

In a previous announcement, Princess Catherine encouraged others not to lose faith, as it is an important part of hope. While we can’t know all of what she meant, we do know that many people facing cancer find hope, strength and peace through a relationship with God. To explore more on this topic, see Knowing God Personally at the end of this article.

Closing words

It seems fitting to wrap up this post by sharing Princess Catherine’s closing words from her announcement:

“To all those who are continuing their own cancer journey, I remain with you side by side, hand in hand—out of darkness can come light. So let that light shine bright.”

May you find that light—especially through hope, strength and peace—today and all your days ahead.