According to Eleonora Teplinsky, M.D., who goes by @drteplinsky on Instagram, the specific side effects of chemotherapy are influenced by the type of cancer with which the patient was diagnosed. In the case of Catherine, Princess of Wales, that specific information hasn’t been shared with the public. “There are many cancers that can be present in the abdominal area,” the oncologist noted, emphasizing the fact that there isn’t “enough information to answer the question about what type of cancer it may be.”
In the video statement posted to Instagram, Kate said that she was “in the early stages” of preventative chemotherapy, also known as adjuvant chemotherapy. The specific treatment is commonly administered to kill any remaining or unaccounted-for cancer cells in the patient’s body after a primary cancer treatment, which is typically a surgical intervention. Other than lessening the chances of cancer spreading throughout the patient’s system, preventative chemotherapy also lowers the risk of the disease returning. It is typically given three to five weeks following the primary treatment, and the duration can vary depending on the type and stage of cancer.
Given the limited information about Kate’s cancer diagnosis, Teplinsky stressed that “it is not possible to speak on prognosis or outcome,” including the duration and specific challenges of her recovery process.
