King to Deliver Personal Address on Cancer in Nationwide Broadcast
King Charles has recorded a first-hand account about his battle with cancer, set to air as part of this year's Stand Up To Cancer drive, run by medical research organisations and Channel 4.
Buckingham Palace confirmed the King would talk about his "recovery journey" as a individual battling cancer, in a video message on Friday evening at 20:00 GMT.
The recording, filmed within his London residence two weeks ago, will emphasise the critical nature of preventative health checks to increase the likelihood more people detect the illness at an treatable phase.
This constitutes a rare update on the wellbeing of the King, who has been undergoing regular treatment since the news was shared in early last year. But it is thought improbable the King will identify his particular diagnosis.
The Campaign's Core Mission
The Stand Up To Cancer event each year raises funds for scientific studies and treatment and encourages people to get screenings to improve the probability of an timely detection.
The King's relative openness about his condition, and living with cancer, has been intended to increase understanding and to persuade more people to get checked - and this will be advanced with this unique royal involvement.
Up until now the King's key philosophy to his cancer has been to maintain his duties, upholding a busy schedule alongside his frequent sessions of therapy, and he is understood not to have desired to be overshadowed by his illness.
This year has seen the King, 77, undertaking several international tours, including to Italy and Canada, and hosting the highest tally of foreign dignitaries to the UK for almost 40 years, which included the German president in recent days.
The Televised Evening Programme
This Friday's Stand Up to Cancer broadcast on Channel 4, hosted by well-known figures including a team of famous hosts, will encourage people not to be afraid of getting cancer checks.
All three have been personally touched by cancer - McCall revealed last month she had had an operation for the disease, while another presenter was treated for a thyroid condition in the past. Host Hills has previously spoken about his father, who had one form of cancer and then later blood cancer.
The broadcast will appeal to the roughly nine million people in the UK who charities state are not up to date with public health checks, with an digital tool to let people determine if they are able for tests for key health indicators.
In an bid to clarify health tests and illustrate the importance of early diagnosis there will be a live broadcast from treatment centres at Addenbrooke's and Royal Papworth hospitals in Cambridge.
"My aim is to remove the anxiety from health checks and show everyone that they are not isolated in this," stated a presenter.
The Landscape of Health Checks
Right now in the UK, there are a number of publicly available checks - for major health concerns - offered to certain age groups.
A recently launched lung cancer screening programme is also being slowly rolled out for anyone at potential risk of being diagnosed with the condition, primarily aimed at people of a certain age, who have a smoking history or have smoked in the past.
Individuals may request specific tests, but there is no national programme in place.
Funding Research
The charity project, which has raised £113m over the past decade, is financing dozens of research studies with thousands of patients.
His Majesty, in a address for dignitaries at a event for support groups in the spring, had referred to recognising the "daunting and at times frightening experience" for patients and their loved ones.
But he said his experience of living with cancer had shown him that "the most difficult times of sickness can be brightened by the kindness of others," as he praised those who looked after individuals with the illness.
Official sources has not made public the nature of cancer the King has, or the therapies he has been given. The King's cancer was detected following he had had a medical treatment.
