King Charles has been diagnosed with a form of cancer. The Monarch, at 75, “remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible,” says Buckingham Palace.
The type of cancer has not been revealed; it is not prostate cancer but was discovered during his recent treatment for an enlarged prostate.
The Palace said the King began “regular treatments” on Monday and will postpone public duties during it.
No further details are being shared on the stage of cancer or the prognosis.
King Charles Health:
Charles informed both his sons personally about his diagnosis, and the Prince of Wales was said to be in regular contact with his father.
The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, who lives in the United States, spoke to his father and will be travelling to the UK to see him in the coming days.
The King returned to London from Sandringham in Norfolk on Monday morning, and the palace says he has started treatment as an outpatient.
Although he will pause his public events, the King will continue his constitutional role as head of state, including paperwork and private meetings.
The King chose to go public about his cancer treatment
He had a prostate procedure at a private London hospital more than a week ago.
At the time, the palace said the treatment was for a “benign” condition.
“It was during this intervention that a separate issue of concern was noted and subsequently diagnosed as a form of cancer,” it said on Monday.
The King chose to go public about his cancer treatment, the Palace said, as he had been a patron of several cancer-related charities when he was Prince of Wales.
“In this capacity, His Majesty has often spoken publicly in support of cancer patients, their loved ones, and the wonderful health professionals who help care for them.”
He had also gone public about his prostate treatment to encourage more men to get prostate checks.
He was said to have been delighted to have raised awareness about the issue, with the NHS website reporting a surge in issues about prostate conditions.
The Royal Society of Medicine thanked the King for highlighting “how cancer is indiscriminate” and urged members of the public eligible for cancer screenings to make an appointment.
King Charles will continue his duty.
It is understood that his weekly audiences with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will continue and will be in person unless doctors advise that he limit such contact.
There is a constitutional mechanism for when the head of state is unable to carry out official duties; in that circumstance, “counsellors of state” can be appointed to stand in for the monarch.
At present, that includes Queen Camilla, Prince William, the Princess Royal, and Prince Edward. Prince Harry and the Duke of York are no longer called upon, as they are non-working royals.
Prince William had also temporarily withdrawn from public engagements while he helped his wife Catherine, the Princess of Wales, recover from abdominal surgery she had last month.
The King was seen at a church service in Sandringham on Sunday, where he waved to crowds and walked for about 10 minutes.
“Please don’t be shy; the more information we have, the better we can help, hopefully, rule out cancer or, if not, put you on the most suitable treatment pathway,” its president, Dr. Jay Verma, said.
One in two people in the UK develops some kind of cancer during their lifetime.
There are more than 200 types of cancer; the most common ones in the UK are breast, lung, prostate, and bowel, according to the NHS website.
For many types of cancer, the chance of getting it increases with age. UK figures suggest that, on average each year, more than a third (36%) of new cancer cases were in people aged 75 and over.
World Leaders about King Charles’s Cancer:
PM Modi also sent his wishes to King Charles for his speedy recovery on X post.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wished the King a “full and speedy recovery”, as did Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle.
US President Joe Biden expressed his concern and said he would speak to the King.
In a post on X, he later said: “Navigating a cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship takes hope and absolute courage. Jill and I join the people of the United Kingdom in praying that His Majesty experiences a swift and full recovery.”
Mr. Biden’s son, Beau, died of brain cancer at age 46, and his long-time friend, Republican Senator John McCain, also died of cancer in 2018.
When King Charles acceded to the throne
Charles acceded to the throne on the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September 2022, and his coronation took place the following May.
Kings Ahead Tours:
The King and Queen are scheduled to visit Canada in May and Australia, New Zealand, and Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October.
The Palace has yet to confirm whether the tours will go ahead, with no date suggested for the King’s return to full public duties.
What is prostate cancer?
Prostate cancer is a cancer that occurs in the prostate. The prostate is a small walnut-shaped gland in males that produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm.
Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer. Many prostate cancers grow slowly and are confined to the prostate gland, where they may not cause serious harm. However, while some types of prostate cancer grow slowly and may need minimal or even no treatment, other types are aggressive and can spread quickly.
Prostate cancer that’s detected early—when it’s still confined to the prostate gland—has the best chance for successful treatment.
Symptoms
Prostate cancer may cause no signs or symptoms in its early stages.
More advanced prostate cancer may cause signs and symptoms such as:
• Trouble urinating
• Decreased force in the stream of urine
• Blood in the urine
• Blood in the semen
• Bone pain
• Losing weight without trying
• Erectile dysfunction
Causes
It’s not clear what causes prostate cancer.
Doctors know that prostate cancer begins when cells in the prostate develop changes in their DNA. A cell’s DNA contains the instructions that tell it what to do. The changes tell the cells to grow and divide more rapidly than normal cells do. The abnormal cells continue to live when other cells die.
The accumulating abnormal cells form a tumour that can grow to invade nearby tissue. In time, some abnormal cells can break away and spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.
Prevention
You can reduce your risk of prostate cancer if you:
• Choose a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables. Eat a variety of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Fruits and vegetables contain many vitamins and nutrients that can contribute to your health.
Whether you can prevent prostate cancer through diet has yet to be conclusively proven. However, eating a healthy diet with a variety of fruits and vegetables can improve your overall health.
• Choose healthy foods over supplements. No studies have shown that supplements play a role in reducing your risk of prostate cancer. Instead, choose foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals so that you can maintain healthy levels of vitamins in your body.
• Exercise most days of the week. Exercise improves your overall health, helps you maintain your weight, and improves your mood. Try to exercise most days of the week. If you’re new to exercise, start slow and work your way up to more exercise time each day.
• Maintain a healthy weight. If your current weight is healthy, work to maintain it by choosing a healthy diet and exercising most days of the week. If you need to lose weight, add more exercise and reduce the number of calories you eat each day. Ask your doctor for help creating a plan for healthy weight loss.
• Talk to your doctor about the increased risk of prostate cancer. If you have a very high risk of prostate cancer, you and your doctor may consider medications or other treatments to reduce the risk. Some studies suggest that taking 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, including finasteride (Propecia, Proscar) and dutasteride (Avodart), may reduce the overall risk of developing prostate cancer. These drugs are used to control prostate gland enlargement and hair loss.
However, some evidence indicates that people taking these medications may have an increased risk of getting a more serious form of prostate cancer (high-grade prostate cancer). If you’re concerned about your risk of developing prostate cancer, talk with your doctor.
For details, visit https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prostate-cancer