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Kate Middleton has given an update about her health as she undergoes cancer treatment. Matt Porteous, via Kensington Palace

• Catherine Middleton, the Princess of Wales, recently opened up about her life following a cancer diagnosis and treatment.
• The princess announced in March 2024 that she had been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy. She later shared that the cancer was currently in remission.
• Catherine had been the latest British royal to reveal she has cancer. King Charles III and former royal family member Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, recently shared their cancer diagnoses.

Catherine “Kate” Middleton, the Princess of Wales, recently opened up about her life following her cancer diagnosis and treatment.

During a visit to Colchester Hospital in southeast England on July 2, the 43-year-old said it had been “really, really difficult” time in her life.

“You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism through treatment,” she said. “Treatment’s done, then it’s like, ‘I can crack on, get back to normal,’ but actually [that’s not the case].”

Catherine, who is married to William, the Prince of Wales and the heir to the British crown, has not disclosed what type of cancer she was diagnosed with. She had shared earlier this year that the disease was in remission.

Despite this, she recently said she can no longer “function normally at home as [she] perhaps once used to.”

Finding a “new normal … takes time,” the British royal continued. It’s a roller coaster, it’s not smooth, like you expect it to be. But the reality is you go through hard times.”

Catherine first shared her cancer diagnosis in March 2024 after stepping back from her public duties to undergo abdominal surgery earlier last year, which Kensington Palace had said was noncancerous. She explained that tests performed after the surgery revealed a cancer diagnosis. “This, of course, came as a huge shock,” Middleton had said.

“William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family,” Middleton had said. Catherine and William have three children: Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7.

In a statement to Healthline, the American Cancer Society highlighted how cancer can impact other family members.

“We know the challenge of explaining a cancer diagnosis to any family member, especially children. Depending on their age and maturity level, children will experience the news of a diagnosis differently,” said Karen Knudsen, MD, CEO of the American Cancer Society.

Princess Kate has ‘good days and bad days’

Catherine shared an update on her health amid her cancer treatment in June 2024, saying she has both “good days and bad days.”

At the time, Catherine described her treatment as ongoing and would continue for a few more months.

“I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days,” she wrote on Instagram. “On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.”

The princess also talked about how the cancer treatment has forced her to slow down.

“I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal,” she wrote.

She had also shared that she would attend her first royal public function this year for the King’s birthday parade.

What we know about Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnosis

Details about Catherine’s cancer diagnosis remain sparse, but here’s what we know.

Catherine underwent a major abdominal surgery for a condition that was initially believed to be noncancerous.

The surgery was successful, but tests afterward indicated that cancer had been present. It is unclear if the cancer was detected early. On the advice of her medical team, she started preventive chemotherapy.

“The information regarding GI surgery is a very generalized statement. The abdominal cavity contains not only the GI tract but also urinary tract and the female reproductive organs. Abdominal surgery may range from the colon, rectum, stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, small bowel, bladder, kidneys, ovaries, and more,” Cathy Eng, MD, co-director of GI Oncology and Director of the Young Adult Cancers Program at Vanderbilt University, told Healthline.

“I want to reiterate we cannot speculate on the type of cancer she may have since we do not have all the pertinent information,” Eng said.

Steven Lee-Kong, MD, chief of Colorectal Surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center, told Healthline that, based on present information, the cancer may have occurred in one of the abdominal organs.

The most common cancers that affect women are breast, lung, colorectal, endometrium, and melanoma of the skin, according to a recent study from the American Cancer Society (ACS).

Of the most common forms of cancer, colorectal cancer is statistically the most likely to be diagnosed in the abdomen, said Eng. However, she cautions against making generalizations about individuals based solely on trends.

“We do not recommend stereotyping individuals based upon their appearance alone. Cancer can impact anybody at any age. I think this is a warning sign to all young individuals to pay attention to their bodies,” she said.

Princess of Wales underwent preventive chemotherapy

Catherine’s surgery was deemed a success, which means that the cancer was likely removed.

The Princess of Wales underwent preventive chemotherapy, also known as adjuvant chemotherapy, meaning chemotherapy that follows a primary therapy, like surgery.

When administered after surgery that removes a cancer, it is used to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence rather than prevent cancer development. If Catherine is receiving chemotherapy, she may be at risk for cancer recurrence, Lee-Kong explained.

“The role of adjuvant chemotherapy is to provide basically additional treatment postoperatively to improve the disease-free survival, overall survival, and to reduce the risk of recurrent disease in the future,” Eng noted.

Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment, meaning it works throughout the entire body. Chemotherapy agents use powerful cytotoxic chemicals that destroy rapidly growing cancer cells by preventing them from dividing and growing.

However, these powerful drugs also affect healthy cells in the body, which can result in many serious side effects. Common side effects of chemotherapy include:

• hair loss
• fatigue
• nausea and vomiting
• diarrhea
• infection

“I cannot overemphasize the importance of any patient receiving adjuvant chemotherapy (or chemotherapy in general) to communicate well with their oncology team to ensure that they are tolerating any side effects they may be experiencing and to utilize the supportive medications provided to patients to reduce these side effects,” Eng said.

Why is early cancer detection important?

Different forms of cancer are on the rise in young adults between the ages of 18 and 49.

According to the ACS’s 2024 Cancer Statistics, young adults were the only age group with an increase in cancer incidence between 1995 and 2020.

Cancer incidence has steadily climbed for young males and females by about 1% annually over this time period.

Some of the most common forms of cancer in young adults include:

• breast cancer
• thyroid cancer
• melanoma of the skin
• testicular cancer
• colon & rectum cancer
• Hodgkin lymphoma

“I think this is a warning sign to all young individuals to pay attention to their bodies, and if a symptom does not resolve within less than two weeks, you should bring it to the attention of your physician,” said Eng.

Early detection is key for treating cancer. However, for young adults, detection and treatment are more likely to be detected and diagnosed at a later stage due to members of the group being less likely to have insurance and undergo regular screenings.

“We know that the sooner cancers are diagnosed and the earlier the stage is at diagnosis, the better patients do overall,” Lee-Kong told Healthline. “Early detection, enhanced by age-appropriate screening, leads to improved survival and better overall outcomes.”

Adam L. Booth, MD, assistant professor of pathology and immunology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and a member of the College of American Pathologists, agreed.

“Early detection through screening is our strongest defense against cancer progression because it is the only way to prevent or identify cancer before the disease advances, symptoms develop, and prognosis declines,” Booth told Healthline.

“For example, many patients undergoing a screening colonoscopy that identifies an early cancer have no symptoms. Thus, screening is the only way their cancer is caught early, which gives them a better prognosis overall.”

Helpful strategies for families dealing with cancer

Catherine’s cancer diagnosis had been the latest in a series of recent royal family cancer announcements.

King Charles III underwent treatment for an unspecified cancer that was discovered during a procedure for a benign prostate enlargement in February 2024.

Soon thereafter, former royal family member Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York, announced she was recovering from skin cancer. Ferguson’s melanoma was detected early during reconstructive surgery following a mastectomy after a recent breast cancer diagnosis.

As a wife and mother, Catherine’s cancer diagnosis may have been difficult for her family, especially her young children.

“At this time, I am also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope,” Catherine said when she announced her diagnosis.

The ACS offers strategies to families navigating cancer diagnoses on how to communicate with children.

The ACS recommends clear communication about the type of cancer, expected changes in the individual with cancer, and what treatment will look like. They also urge parents to “find a balance between too much information and too little.” Parents are also encouraged to let children ask questions and express their feelings.

“Children between the ages of 7 and 12 may have a hard time telling an adult about any distress they are experiencing and might be afraid that what they say might upset loved ones,” Knudsen said.

“We commend Princess Catherine for her openness and vulnerability in sharing her recent diagnosis. The American Cancer Society recognizes the importance of respecting the privacy of the Prince and Princess of Wales and their family as they navigate this challenging time. We wish them all the best as Princess Catherine continues to focus on her treatment and recovery,” Knudsen concluded.

Illustration by Maya Chastain

Losing my eyesight because of type 1 diabetes has always been the greatest fear of my life. Now, more than four decades after my T1D diagnosis and many years after my initial retinopathy diagnosis, diabetes is starting to steal my vision.

And I’m scared as hell.

Over the past 5 years, I’ve had 16 laser treatments and 6 injections in my eyes. Thinking about those numbers makes my mind spin. I worry whether, at some point, my eyes will just decide to give up.

Recently, I’ve been dealt a new diagnosis card: glaucoma. This complicates my already precarious state of life with both diabetes-related retinopathy and diabetic macular edema (DME). I now need to take eye drops twice a day to help lower the pressure in my eyes and prevent vision loss.

I’ve had diminished vision in my right eye since early 2024. There are dark floaters, almost like I’m looking through a thin veil placed in front of that eye. I can still see, but there are times when I close that eye just to get a break from that veil effect for a few brief moments, especially on clear sunny days or when I’m looking at bright screens.

There is a lot happening in my eye health journey, to say the least.

Fear of complications

For a dozen years after my initial retinopathy diagnosis, my condition was considered very mild and didn’t require any attention beyond the best-possible blood sugar management.

But the fear of something more significant has always been there, lurking.

Many people with diabetes (PWDs) live in fear of the dreaded diabetes complications that could someday strike — especially those of us diagnosed with T1D as kids or teens, who’ve had many years for possible complications to develop.

There is a term in our circle called “fear of hypoglycemia.” It’s used to describe the experience of dreading low blood sugars so much that it negatively impacts your diabetes management. In a frantic effort to avoid lows, people with diabetes often let themselves run high, which increases the likelihood of complications.

Diagnosis Diaries

“Of course, I was terrified by the idea of a scary needle moving toward my eye. But in reality, I barely noticed it.”

I would suggest a new term for consideration, “fear of complications.”

So many of us shape our lives and our diabetes care based on that fear, that anticipation, that dread of future complications — or of current complications that may evolve and get worse. It has a real mental health impact. The psychosocial part of diabetes care is still in desperate need of improvement.

I’ve been hearing the warnings about diabetes complications for as long as I can remember — including the fact that people with diabetes are at higher risk of developing eye disease.

More than half of all people with diabetes will experience diabetes-related retinopathy or macular edema at some point in their lives. Other estimates put that number even higher, particularly for people with T1D.

Facing my worst diabetes fears

In the summer of 2019, I learned that I’d crossed some retinopathy-related threshold and my diagnosis had evolved into one requiring laser treatments. My world seemed to collapse. My heart started beating rapidly, and tears began to swell.

Even though the eye doctor assured me that the treatments would be “very routine,” my mind could hardly process the news.

After being informed of my progressing retinopathy and the need for laser treatments, my fear of complications immediately clouded all rational thought. My eye doctor tried to reassure me, as did others who’d been through this type of laser treatment before. “Calm down,” they advised. “It’ll be all right.”

And yet, I couldn’t calm down. Understandably. I’d never gone through something like this firsthand.

Going into the procedure, my nerves were frayed. I barely slept the night before. And the drive to the eye clinic was excruciating.

My retinopathy laser treatment

Despite my fears, I went through with it.

I discovered that the actual procedure wasn’t scary or painful at all. It turned out to be less inconvenient than even a normal diabetes eye exam, where you have to keep your eyes open while staring into ridiculously bright lights.

The procedure on my affected eye went something like this:

• I was given numbing eye drops and drops to dilate my pupils.
• I saw someone draw an X to mark the spot over my left eye — a safety precaution.
• I placed my chin on the laser machine and looked into its light, focusing on a little dot while the doctor examined the insides of my eye. This wasn’t scary, as it was no different than any other machine I’d had to rest my chin on in the past for routine eye exams.
• Next, I saw 30 bright flashes of light that were—as my eye doctor had explained—about the same as seeing rapid camera flashes back-to-back. This part took about 20 minutes in total.
• The whole procedure from start to finish was only about 45 minutes, with half that time devoted to sitting in a waiting room as my numbing and dilation drops did their job.

And that was it!

My first-ever experience with retinopathy laser treatment was a breeze. No pain, no big deal.

That’s what my eye specialist had told me going into the procedure, but I didn’t take his word for it. I should’ve listened and trusted him.

In terms of “recovery” afterward, it was easy-peasy with no visual impact. My left eye just felt dilated. In the following hours, we went out for dinner and drinks without any issues (aside from some grimaces when a bright light hit me at the wrong angle).

It was also a nice bonus that my blood sugars didn’t spike as a result of this procedure. The hour or so before the treatment, I did experience higher blood sugars because of the stress and nervousness going into the appointment. But my blood sugar levels only rose to the low 200s before leveling off and settling back down within a couple of hours.

Over the next few days, my left eye was a bit itchy, and there were a handful of moments of minor discomfort from glaring at my bright laptop screen. But that was it.

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Experiencing eye injections

That initial laser procedure was successful and treated the eye issue at hand. But it wouldn’t be my last. My progressing retinopathy would soon lead to DME and require more treatments.

Almost a year after my first laser treatment, an eye hemorrhage materialized. I started noticing dark, black floaters in my right eye — the one that hadn’t needed the initial laser treatment. Cue even more panic from me!

There was a lot of crying because this was the first and most noticeable time my vision had been impaired as a result of retinopathy.

My situation was described as a “critical, vision-impacting emergency.” The retinal specialist observed that a small blood vessel had burst. Blood leakage in my retina was causing the floaters in my field of vision.

This required an eye injection.

Diagnosis Diaries

“Connecting to others who’ve gone through these types of treatments has been a saving grace, putting my nerves and mind at ease in the most stressful of times.”

There are several eye injection medications available for diabetes-related retinopathy, but my doctor suggested the oldest one on the market: Avastin.

Interestingly, Avastin isn’t even approved for diabetes-related retinopathy or DME. It was previously used to treat cancer. Now it’s used off-label for people with diabetes experiencing retinopathy-related vision issues, as it can slow or stop abnormal blood vessel growth. My eye specialist explained that it’s a less expensive first-line treatment that’s just as effective as the newer, more expensive injections.

Once again, my treatment began with numbing drops. But then came the injection.

Of course, I was terrified by the idea of a scary needle moving toward my eye. But in reality, I barely noticed it. Thankfully the injection comes from the side of your field of vision. And due to the numbing drops, I felt only a little pinch, lasting just a few seconds. It was finished just as quickly as it had begun.

Later in the day, once the eye drops had worn off, my sight was back to normal. There was some minimal burning at times, similar to the way it hurts looking into a bright light. It would force me to close my eyes for a moment to adjust while I wipe away some tears.

The blood in my eye that was causing the floaters eventually dissipated, as the doctor expected it would.

Diagnosis Diaries

More about diabetic retinopathy treatment

• Laser Treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy
• Medicated Eye Injections for Diabetic Retinopathy
• Diabetic Retinopathy 101: What You Should Know

An evolving diagnosis

I’ve had several more injections and many more laser treatments since this started. This is a continuing journey with many moving parts:

• Several of my appointments include dye tests, where they inject a yellow dye into my veins and then take detailed photos of the back of my eye to see how my blood vessels are faring.
• With glaucoma, I also need to use eye drops twice a day to help keep my eye pressure low. Otherwise, there’s a chance that I could suddenly lose my vision because of the glaucoma, not the diabetes-related retinopathy.
• I’m also at higher risk for developing a detached retina thanks to family history and my own eye health issues, and so that is something I’m keeping in mind as I get older.

To date, I’m grateful everything has been going as well as it can. And I continue doing my best to keep my blood sugars in range.

Although no one wants to develop or need treatment for diabetes-related eye disease, I’m obviously hugely relieved about my (mostly) positive experience.

Even though I remain scared about losing my eyesight, I try to be mindful of the fact that there’s a lot to be thankful for in living with diabetes in the here and now.

Mike Hoskins is an engagement editor at Healthline. Prior to that, he was managing editor at DiabetesMine. He has lived with type 1 diabetes since age 5 in 1984, and his mom was also diagnosed with T1D at the same young age.

With a journalism degree from Oakland University in Michigan, Mike has over two decades of experience at various daily, weekly, and specialty print and digital media publications. He joined DiabetesMine in 2012, after several years of writing his own personal diabetes blog.

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Skillet meals are filling and require minimal cleanup. They can easily be doubled or tripled and are ideal for making in advance.

If you like one-pot or one-pan meals, you may also like skillet meals. These meals may involve chopping some vegetables, but they come together in one skillet in the end.

These recipes can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. All of them are considered high in protein. They can also easily be transferred to meal prep containers and reheated.

How we define high protein

We define a high protein meal as a meal with 20 grams or more of protein per serving. If you’re looking for a high protein snack, look for a snack with 10 grams or more of protein per serving.

View our full collection of high protein recipes.

Chicken, sausage, and black bean skillet

Courtesy of Wellos

This dinner recipe has three sources of protein: chicken sausage, chicken breast, and black beans. Each serving contains over 40 grams (g) of protein. A high protein diet may aid in weight loss and help prevent weight regain after weight loss.

The phytochemicals in black beans are associated with antioxidant, anti-cardiovascular diseases, and anti-inflammatory properties.

This skillet also contains onions, corn, salsa, cumin, cayenne, avocados, and green onions. It is served with mixed greens and a dressing made with olive oil and lime juice.

Get the recipe!

Turkey, avocado, and egg breakfast skillet

Courtesy of Wellos

This skillet is made with eggs, ground turkey, salsa, avocado, and chipotle chiles in adobo sauce. It is a filling and flavorful breakfast option that can be made ahead for the weekdays. Each serving contains 30 g of protein.

Ground turkey is lower in saturated fat and calories than ground sausage, making it a good alternative for weight loss or simply lowering saturated fat intake.

Eggs are high in key nutrients such as vitamin B12 and selenium. They are also low in calories and high in protein, which can help with weight loss and support your overall health.

Get the recipe!

Steak, mushroom, and spinach skillet

Courtesy of PlateJoy

This simple skillet contains sirloin steak, mushrooms, onions, and spinach. The steak is cooked to your liking and set aside while the vegetables are cooked together. Then, the steak is added back to the skillet and mixed together.

This recipe is low in carbs, with just 8 g per serving. It is also high in protein, with 26 g per serving.

Since this meal is so simple, you can swap out the steak for any other protein, such as chicken or shrimp, and choose from your favorite vegetables, such as peppers, onions, broccoli, or asparagus.

Get the recipe!

Vegetarian skillet

Courtesy of PlateJoy

This veggie-packed dish includes spinach, onions, black beans, tofu, and cherry tomatoes. It contains 28 g of protein per serving, making it a filling choice for vegetarians and vegans.

The tofu in this recipe acts as scrambled eggs, so this could be a breakfast dish. Additionally, if you are not vegan, you could also add eggs to give it more of a breakfast feel and increase the protein content.

Consuming tofu may lower your risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Get the recipe!

Takeaway

Skillet meals are easy to make and packed with vegetables and proteins. They are also highly customizable, as you can easily add more ingredients to the skillet if desired.

The FDA issued a severe warning for a recall of hundreds of boxes of organic blueberries due to possible listeria contamination. Xiu Huo/Getty Images

• The FDA issued its highest-level risk warning for a recent recall of hundreds of boxes of organic blueberries manufactured in Georgia.
• Alma Pak International issued the voluntary recall in June after obtaining positive test results for Listeria monocytogenes in two lots of its products.
• Foodborne illness from listeria can range from mild to severe, and it’s important to seek treatment right away if you think you’ve eaten something contaminated.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued its highest-level risk warning over a recent recall of hundreds of boxes of organic blueberries due to possible listeria contamination.

Alma Pak International LLC, a Georgia-based food manufacturer, issued a voluntary recall for 400 boxes of organic blueberries weighing 30 pounds each. The boxes were primarily shipped to one customer in North Carolina.

The manufacturer initiated the recall on June 9 after receiving positive test results for Listeria monocytogenes following routine testing. The affected boxes include the Lot numbers 13325 G1060 and 13325 G1096.

On July 1, the FDA issued a Class 1 risk classification for the recall, which indicates “a situation in which there is a reasonable probability that the use of, or exposure to, a violative product will cause serious adverse health consequences or death.”

Healthline couldn’t reach Alma Pak for comment, but the company told Newsweek in a statement that “the affected product was fully recovered prior to reaching the retail market. As a result, no product was sold to consumers, and there was no risk to public health.”

“Alma Pak International has implemented additional corrective actions and preventive controls to further strengthen its already rigorous food safety systems. All products at Alma Pak undergo comprehensive testing, in addition to a strong environmental monitoring program. In response to the incident, intensified vector sampling was conducted to support the company’s proactive ‘seek and destroy’ commitment. All subsequent samples collected during this enhanced monitoring process tested negative for Listeria monocytogenes, further confirming the effectiveness of the food safety program,” the statement continued.

What to know about listeria 

Foods contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may lead to foodborne illnesses ranging from mild to severe symptoms.

Less severe symptoms of listeria infection (listeriosis) generally resolve in 1–3 days and typically include:

• fever
• nausea and vomiting
• diarrhea
• muscle ache

When foodborne illness from listeria contamination becomes severe, it can be life-threatening. These symptoms may include:

• headaches, neck stiffness
• confusion, loss of balance
• convulsions

Severe infections are particularly dangerous for newborns, adults over age 65 and those with weakened immune systems.

Young infants, pregnant people, older adults over 65, and immunocompromised individuals are most at risk for severe illness from listeria.

If you experience flu-like symptoms or develop any of the above symptoms after eating, it’s important to contact your doctor right away. Early treatment for listeria infection can help prevent severe illness.

How does listeria bacteria grow?

Despite the FDA’s recently issued high-level risk warning for blueberries, the general public need not panic.

“Blueberries are generally safe for consumption. While contamination can happen, it’s rare, and proper handling usually keeps the risk very low,” said Michelle Routhenstein, MS, a registered dietitian with Entirely Nourished, specializing in heart disease.

While the overall risk is low, Listeria monocytogenes may develop in food products during the manufacturing process.

“Listeria can grow if the berries come into contact with contaminated water, dirty equipment, or unclean surfaces during harvesting or packaging. It can also grow if the berries aren’t kept cold enough or if workers don’t follow proper hygiene practices,” Routhenstein told Healthline.

“Listeriacan also spread through cross-contamination. This occurs when ready-to-eat foods come into contact with surfaces or equipment that have been contaminated with the bacteria. For example, using the same cutting board for raw meat and then for fruit or vegetables without proper cleaning can lead to contamination and potential illness,” she said.

How to lower your risk of listeria 

You can minimize your risk of listeria contamination in blueberries and other fresh fruits by washing them thoroughly under running water before preparing, cooking, or eating them.

Routhenstein suggested using a produce brush to wash any fruits with firm skins or rinds.

She noted that properly storing fruits in the refrigerator and keeping them away from raw meats and other possible sources of contamination can also help lower one’s risk.

“It’s also important to eat them within a few days and to clean your hands, kitchen surfaces, and containers before and after handling fresh produce,” she advised.