King Charles III delivered a poignant message urging the public to prioritize early cancer screening during a recent video announcement. Recently, Asher posted very different news about his cancer treatment schedule. Starting in the new year, that’s going to be lowered due to his early diagnosis and treatment of an enlarged prostate.
In the video, the King emphasized the importance of early detection, stating, “I have learned something that troubles me deeply: At least 9 million people in our country are not up to date with the cancer screenings available to them. That is at least 9 million opportunities for early diagnosis being missed.” His impassioned plea serves as a call to action for all of us to advocate for ourselves and take charge of our health care.
King Charles’s own journey through cancer treatment has been a deeply personal one. As noted in his recent medical disclosure, in early February 2024, he had an outpatient procedure to treat his benign prostate enlargement. He enjoyed three nights at The London Clinic with daily visits from Queen Camilla. After undertaking this process, prognostic tests discovered an early stage of breast cancer. The King’s experience highlights the importance of identifying a disease early on. He announced that when bowel cancer is diagnosed early, around 90 per cent of people will survive at least five years. This statistic emphasizes the need for early detection. He pointed out that if diagnosed at an advanced stage the chance of living drops to only 1 in 10.
He expressed gratitude for the support he has received throughout his journey, saying, “Throughout my own cancer journey, I have been profoundly moved by what I can only call the ‘community of care’ that surrounds every cancer patient — the specialists, the nurses, researchers and volunteers who work tirelessly to save and improve lives.” This statement goes to show how powerful the impact of working together can be when it comes to fighting cancer.
King Charles spoke candidly about their experiences of cancer. He pointed to a new national cancer screening checker, now live on the web in the U.K. This tool helps individuals determine which cancer screening programs they should participate in, further promoting awareness and action among citizens.
Since his diagnosis, The King and Queen Camilla have been particularly engaged with raising awareness about cancer. Their dedication to this issue is further shown by some personal trials that hit home for their family. His daughter-in-law and the King’s wife’s daughter, Kate, the Princess of Wales, was diagnosed with cancer and received chemotherapy. In January, Kate announced that her cancer has gone into remission.
King Charles’s message provides a significant reminder at a time when many are preoccupied with planning joyous celebrations alongside friends and family. He reminded viewers, “This is a season when our thoughts turn to celebrations with our friends and families.” He implored all of us to remember those still fighting cancer this holiday season.
He urged us all to think differently and act boldly. “This December, as we gather to reflect on the year past, I pray that we can each pledge, as part of our resolutions for the year ahead, to play our part in helping to catch cancer early. Your life, or the life of someone you love, may depend upon it,” he stated.
