The difference between cancer life as a royal and as a "lesser mortal"

[sixtyandsomething]

not to derail other threads..

I have nothing against the Princess of Wales, I am sure she is a lovely person and I wish her well. however, let's not pretend she is facing the same struggles as the rest of us.

I bet you £10 she hasn't had to deal with any of these! (feel free to add your own)

-40+ calls to DWP, often being left on hold for 2 hours or more
-many months delay in benefits being processed, leaving you without any income at all
-DWP advising you to "find a food bank"
-struggle up the hill on crutches to get a bus to chemo
-appointments delayed and cancelled, blood tests lost and repeated, regular system "crashes" leaving medical staff with no access to your notes.
-never seeing the same medical professionals twice.
-consultant appointments cancelled when you have already travelled several hours to the hospital
-telephone appointments you have to sit and wait by the phone for, for the whole day
-worry on crammed full bus when you are CEV
-getting off bus because it is too full
-getting of bus because you are vomiting
-sitting on the pavement for 3-4 hours after chemo in the dark and rain, because you are CEV and don't want to get back on a crammed bus in the rush hour
-commuters swearing at you because you move too slowly
-commuter kicking you out of the way because you move to slowly, and doing it with an air of indignation, like they feel seriously injured by having to touch something so disgusting with their foot
-minimum 18 hour wait in A and E before being admitted with infection - once it was 28 hours
-further many hour wait in ER before being admitted to wards.
-spending night on chair in corridor, after being admitted to a ward
-being asked to vacate chair in corridor so doctor can perform ECG on patient who is currently standing up with nowhere to sit
-being warned by hospital staff to sleep in your glasses so they are not stolen
-having to buy a constant stream of new clothes, and having to go to charity shops - on steroids? go up two sizes, no chemo? go down 3- surgery? get front opening everything, in a range of sizes.
-not being able have a clean the house, wash up, open the window even, without calling a friend to come and help.
-council refusing to empty your bins because you are not capable of moving them to the right place at the right time
-giving away your pets because you can't take care of them, or afford them
-being told the waiting list to see a physiotherapist is around a year

I could go on

I am so grateful for the treatment I have had, and I hope the Princess of Wales does well and recovers, but the two situations are not the same, even slightly, even if the disease is.

Ah OP I’m so so sorry you have had to deal with all this. It sounds fucking hideous 💐

It's not a competition.
So sorry you have suffered too, but just because she's rich and Royal doesn't mean she's having it any easier, she's still a young mum with kids.

You have every right to be cross. Its wrong so wrong
X

You're totally right.

I cannot for the life of me comprehend the fawning that goes on over these people. Of course we don't want anyone to suffer, including Kate, but the inequality will be there. There's no way she will suffer as so many others do with all the challenges that come being unwell and a mere pleb.

She is having it easier though because she is rich and royal - that is a fact not a point of competiveness.

Their life is so completely removed from the rest of us.

I wouldn't like to choose between the "usual" struggles of the "typical" cancer patient, and her experience with the world watching on.

She has it so much easier in so many ways, but harder in others too.

Bottom line, she's young to be this ill and she has young DC she'll be worried about. There's no easy way to do chemo.

You could give a negative comparison about anything really, but so what? The NHS decline is down to the tories.

of course being not only so wealthy but part of the royal family means she lives in a completely different world!

She's not having it just "easier", but she faces none of the worries anyone else will face. No worry about money, about childcare, about anything, and instant priority access to the very best treatments and consultants in the world.

It's beyond rude for the sycophant to compare a privileged life like this to everybody else.

To be fair, all the comments about the bravest woman in the world don't come from her. She, on the other hand, chose when to release videos and be shown in public, she had a choice there too.

Sorry for your experience OP. In this day and age it’s barbaric. My good friend was left in hospital corridors for days while going through this. It’s so sad it’s an us and them society. I always thought all the stops were pulled out for things like cancer. It’s quite shocking and you have every right to flag it.

OP I'm so sorry you are having to go through all of this and I can completely understand why you feel that way.

I do believe it's not just because she's a royal, these type of differences happen to hundreds of people and it's all down to money and class. You won't be the only one having it harder and she won't be the only one having it easier.

You are completely within right to feel how you do, but I would try to turn your anger elsewhere as like another poster has pointed out it isn't a competition. Unfortunately there will always be someone who has it worse, someone who has it better. It shouldn't take away from anyone's suffering or play down how they feel.

Kate will have her own struggles that others don't and is still having to deal with those

Agree, it’s not a competition.

I have a wealthy friend who is currently being treated for cancer. Yes, she has a few more options, but she is still sick and exhausted after every cycle, and the prognosis is unfavourable.

Most people with cancer have the same confrontation with their own mortality, to a greater or lesser extent.

It is not something I would wish on anyone and I think Catherine is dealing with it with bravery and dignity.

Don’t be so ridiculous, of course she’s got it easier. She doesn’t have to worry about clean uniform for Monday morning, cooking kids dinner in between committing, catching the fucking bus. She’s not relying on a stranger to deliver a food bank parcel so the family can eat out of tins next week!

A rich persons cancer experience is not the same at all as a poor persons and no body can claim it is.

The world is only watching what is given to watch, no way does she have a harder life than anyone else.

The timely photoshoots of the Middleton on the beach just before she release the news show how easy it is to distract the public.

I'm sorry for your experience but she has three young children and is in the public eye. That's very challenging.

Sorry for your experience OP. In this day and age it’s barbaric. My good friend was left in hospital corridors for days while going through this. It’s so sad it’s an us and them society. I always thought all the stops were pulled out for things like cancer. It’s quite shocking and you have every right to flag it.

It isn't a competition no. But she is going to face significantly less hardship dealing with this than most. If it helps people wake up a little and stop this terrible fawning over the royals, then it's a good topic to raise and discuss.

My friend never had this experience she isnt royal either

My aunt died she was told its terminal no treatment can help her husband was in pieces she drove them both home

Money makes little difference the availability of treatment is the same there is no royal magic pill

but apparently is IS a competition, and she is doing cancer better than me! so I am told

Sorry for your hardship

She does not set the rules.

People have voted for a cruel government which is underfunding NHS, the councils, and care services and Brexit which has impacted the economy.

Its the people of the UK not a women who has married into royalty you should judge.

Of course it's awful, but imagine being that sick and exhausted when you have to find money to feed your kids and some energy to actually deal with your kids.

It's hell on earth for some people. Even dragging themselves to hospital for treatment between 2 school runs is an unimaginable nightmare.

It's not a competition, but it would be a good time to highlight the issues and work towards improving the treatment of our patients. Less the time of fawning over Kate because she is wearing a pretty dress (just reading some of the ridiculous articles)

And who is telling you these things OP?

😂😂😂😂

She’ll be chauffeur driven to discreet appointments and met at the door.

She has staff

They have fuck loads of money.

Your post is so out of touch.

Most people with cancer have the same confrontation with their own mortality, to a greater or lesser extent

Yes, this was what I was getting at really

It's not just a case of "well they have it easier as they get someone to wash the school uniforms" etc - it's not just about money.
Although yes money can make it easier in some respects, it's not the be all and end all and all cancer sufferers suffer and struggle with their mortality.
Regardless of your bank balance or royal status.

I agree with this.

OP

Sorry re your health and then problems getting the right treatments and financial help, etc!!

As others have stated, this is not a "competition."

IMO, your thread without having to mention HRH would have carried just as much weight if not more IMO

It is so frustrating, I have many appts and have had cancer a few years ago. The sytmes "crashing" my stomach used to sink thinking, please work, please as I want to know whats going on!! I've also had appointment booked and no letter it was only me chasing them that I found out what was going on

However, once with the team that sorted me out, they were good and on the ball as far as I could see.

Have you seekd help from the Macmillina team as they often advertised on telly re helping out financially when dealing with this medical stuff??

Good luck