When Fergie told me she had breast cancer Sarah said it was just a little op, DAPHNE BARAK reveals

When my dear friend Sarah Ferguson found out that she had cancer, she broke the news in her typical, irrepressible style.

She tried to make light of it but, as her friend I was worried sick.

I first met Sarah in 1992 when I was a young TV interviewer known for getting the big prime-time interviews. I had dreaded the interview – what if it went wrong or she pulled out?

But Sarah was genuine, smart and lovely. She was there to raise money and awareness for charity and I came to learn over the years how caring and giving Sarah is as a person.

Now, three decades on, she was sharing some of the most devastating news a person could receive.

I first met Sarah in 1992 when I was a young TV interviewer known for getting the big prime-time interviews. Now, three decades on, she was sharing some of the most devastating news a person could receive

My mother died of breast cancer and I knew how difficult the road could be.

I was at my home in California on May 11 when Sarah first mentioned that something was wrong.

We had been texting back and forth when I told her I had been to the doctor’s for a scheduled check-up.

My mind was full of questions – how could it be? I was sure it was in no small part due to the stress Sarah has endured from all the ‘nonsense’ as we often referred to it – that is to say supported her ex-husband Prince Andrew over being forced to quit his official Royal duties over his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

Now it is surely his turn to support her.

She told me she was happy that I was going to get a check-up. At first I thought it was typical Sarah, kindly looking out for one of her friends.

It was the middle of the night in Los Angeles – but her follow-up message caused me to jolt upright in my bed.

She told me she had to ‘have a little op’ the following week.

‘I don’t like it,’ I messaged back in my bleary state.

Her reply was honest but characteristically upbeat – one of the qualities I have always so admired in the duchess.

She went on to explain that a small lump had been found in a breast during a routine mammogram and that it had been caught early.

Initially we had little cause for concern.

It went smoothly – and we hoped that it would prove to be a cancer scare, nothing more.

In the meantime, Sarah insisted that it would be business as usual.

She travelled to Bogata with her charity Sarah’s Trust and attended a wedding in Venice, sending me a photo in a silky green dress on one of the famous gondolas. She was stunning, the picture of health.

Sarah kept travelling for her charity work and was thrilled to become a grandmother again – this time to her new grandson Ernest, Princess Eugenie’s second son who was born on May 30.

Sarah Ferguson and Daphne Barak (far right) in Beverly Hills. From left to right:Antonia Marshall (Fergie’s longtime assistant), David Ellender (Halcyon Studios), Fergie, Erbil Gunasti (Daphne’s husband), Daphne Barak

Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew attending day four of the  Royal Ascot  on June 21, 2019

He put a huge smile on her face.

But even so I sensed her mood had changed.

Worse was to come.

A biopsy of the lump confirmed that it was indeed cancer.

My heart stopped. How could this be happening to my kind, loving friend. It wasn’t supposed to be happening like this.

Yet Sarah was focused – business-like.

There was only one option – a Mastectomy and she was booked in for the following Tuesday.

I am close to Sarah but even I was taken aback by her bravery in the face of such an ordeal. She seemed to care more about keeping my spirits up than she did her own diagnosis.

I offered to fly from the US to join her for the operation but she told me she was in good hands. Her sister Jane had joined her from Australia and her daughters have been a source of comfort too – Eugenie had all but moved next to her mum in recent weeks and Beatrice is on the phone constantly.

When it came to the day of the mastectomy I could sense she was nervous.

I was anxiously awaiting news when last Sunday she messaged to say that she was at last back home.

I sent her a bouquet of purple flowers, her favourite colour.

When I spoke to her a day later she seemed shell-shocked but determined, assuring me she was confident of pulling through.

For all her upbeat optimism, Sarah is clear headed and realistic. She is the first to admit that she has a long road to recovery ahead of her. But if anyone has the spirit to take this on then she does.

Because my friend has already had to shoulder so much.

Recent years have been particularly fraught. She has been a rock for her ex-husband, amid the scandal of his association with disgraced tycoon Jeffrey Epstein.

In my mind, the stress Sarah has endured for years must have had a detrimental impact on her health.

We discussed the situation in April, when I met Sarah in London.

My husband Erbil Gunasti and I were in town for meetings about an upcoming TV special and naturally made time to see our friend.

It was my birthday and even though Sarah had already sent a thoughtful gift to my US home, she arrived with another. She is generous to a fault.

We share a love of dogs and she presented me with a special bag for walking my three pooches, which includes spaces for treats and poo bags.

In turn, I gave her a summer handbag and a golf visor which she gleefully modelled them in photographs we took on the day.

It was a fun afternoon, but it was also emotional.

Sarah is the glue of the York family.

When Andrew needed a friend, Sarah was there for him, even when various family members and friends were cruel and disparaging. She was by his side after the Queen’s death when messengers from the Royal household suggested they should vacate their home, Royal Lodge.

Sarah spent quality time my partner with Erbil and I in Beverly Hills back in March while promoting her novel A Most Intriguing Lady.

It was around this time that reports stated that she was not invited to the King’s coronation. But rather than react with upset or anger, Sarah handled it with grace.

She reminded me that she was invited to both Christmas and Easter gatherings with the Royal Family and that she has developed a warm relationship with Camilla.

I admired the positive way she looked at it. Just as I admire the positive way she continues to deal with her cancer diagnosis.

I know she will use her incredible light and energy to ensure other people get checked.

On her recent podcast, she said: ‘I want every single person that is listening to this podcast to go get checked, go get screened, go do it.

‘Cancer can be silent, such a silent little hiding thing. Go get screened, go get checked. Don’t wait.’

• Daphne’s latest book, Struggling for One America, written with Erbil Gunasti, is published by Skyhorse Publishing and is available to buy here.

Read more from Daphne here.