King Charles III is urging others to get screened for cancer early after his own diagnosis last year.
In a pre-recorded video message released on Friday as part of Channel 4 and Cancer Research UK’s ‘Stand Up To Cancer’ night, the monarch spoke about the importance of cancer screening and early detection and how both have impacted her own recovery journey.
The message was shown before a live broadcast from a cancer clinic at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge, presented by Davina McCall.
“This is a season when our thoughts turn to celebrations with our friends and family,” Charles said. “In the midst of this festive period, I just wanted to ask you to join me today in finding a special place in your hearts, minds and prayers for the hundreds of thousands of people across our UK who receive a cancer diagnosis each year, and for the millions more who love and care about them.”
The king acknowledged that a cancer diagnosis can be “overwhelming,” citing his own experience, and said that early detection “is the key that can transform the treatment process, giving invaluable time to medical teams and, to their patients, the precious gift of hope.”
“Throughout my cancer journey, I have been deeply moved by what I can only call the ‘community of care’ that surrounds every cancer patient: the specialists, nurses, researchers and volunteers who work tirelessly to save and improve lives,” he continued. “But I’ve also learned something that worries me deeply: At least 9 million people in our country are not up to date with available cancer screenings. That is, at least 9 million opportunities for early diagnosis are missed.”
King Charles III departs after receiving treatment for an enlarged prostate at the London Clinic on January 29, 2024 in London, England. The King has been receiving treatment for an enlarged prostate, spending three nights at the London Clinic and being visited daily by his wife, Queen Camilla.
Carl Court/Getty Images
Charles said the “statistics speak absolutely clearly,” noting that for bowel cancer detected at its earliest stage, about 9 in 10 people survive for at least five years, according to the UK National Cancer Intelligence Network.
“When diagnosed late, the figure drops to only 1 in 10,” the king said.
While Buckingham Palace has not revealed the type of cancer Charles was diagnosed with or the type of treatment he underwent, the monarch said early detection had made a difference in his own life.
“Early diagnosis simply saves lives,” he said. “I have now heard this message repeatedly during my visits to cancer centers across the country. I also know what a difference it has made in my own case, allowing me to continue leading a full and active life, even while undergoing treatment.”
He added that thanks to his early diagnosis and treatment, “my own cancer treatment schedule may be reduced in the New Year.”
“This milestone is both a personal blessing and a testament to the remarkable advances that have been made in cancer care in recent years, a testimony that I hope can give encouragement to the 50% of us who will be diagnosed with the disease at some point in our lives,” he said.
Charles concluded his message by highlighting the UK’s new national online cancer screening checker which, according to the Stand Up to Cancer website, helps people in the UK determine which cancer screening programs are available to them.
“As I have observed before, the darkest moments of illness can be illuminated by the greatest compassion. But compassion must be accompanied by action,” the king said. “This December, as we gather to reflect on the past year, I pray that each of us can commit, as part of our resolutions for the coming year, to playing our part in helping to detect cancer in its early stages. Your life, or the life of someone you love, may depend on it.”
In February 2024, the palace announced that Charles had suffered a procedure for benign enlargement of the prostate. Following the procedure and subsequent diagnostic tests, “a form of cancer” was identified, according to a palace statement at the time.
Charles’s daughter-in-law, Kate, Princess of Wales, also publicly announced the following month that she had been diagnosed with cancer and was receiving chemotherapy. Kate, mother of three and wife of Charles’ eldest son, Prince William, has not revealed the type of cancer she was diagnosed with. She announced in January that his cancer is in remission.
Since Charles’ diagnosis, the king and his wife, Queen Camilla, have helped raise awareness of the disease. Earlier this year, they hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace where Charles spoke about his cancer diagnosis and treatment and thanked researchers, healthcare workers and more for their commitment to early diagnosis.
For more information on cancer screening tips specific to the US, visit the American Cancer Society. website.
