King to Share First-Hand Message on Cancer in TV Address
King Charles has recorded a first-hand account concerning his battle with cancer, which will be broadcast as part of this year's annual cancer awareness initiative, spearheaded by Cancer Research UK and Channel 4.
Buckingham Palace stated the King would reflect on his "path to recovery" as a cancer patient, in a video message on Friday at 20:00 GMT.
The message, taped inside his London residence two weeks ago, will highlight the importance of preventative health checks to ensure more people catch the illness at an treatable phase.
This constitutes a rare update on the health of the Monarch, who has been in a course of therapy since his condition was announced in early last year. However, it is believed doubtful the King will disclose his specific form of cancer.
The Campaign's Primary Goal
The Stand Up To Cancer campaign each year collects money for medical research and treatment and encourages people to get check-ups to improve the chances of an timely detection.
The King's candid approach about his health challenge, and living with cancer, has been designed to raise awareness and to encourage more people to get tested - and this will be taken a step further with this unique direct participation.
To date the King's main approach to his cancer has been to keep working, maintaining a full diary alongside his ongoing course of treatment, and he is understood not to have wanted to be defined by his diagnosis.
Recently has seen the Sovereign, undertaking several international tours, notably to Italy and Canada, and receiving the largest volume of inward state visits to the UK for decades, including the German president recently.
Friday's Evening Programme
Friday evening's awareness broadcast on television, hosted by celebrities including a team of famous hosts, will appeal to people not to be frightened of getting preventative tests.
All three have been personally touched by cancer - McCall said last month she had undergone surgery for a tumour, while another presenter was diagnosed with thyroid cancer over a decade ago. Presenter Hills has previously spoken about his parent, who had one form of cancer and then later blood cancer.
The show will appeal to the roughly millions of people in the UK who charities state are not current with national health programmes, with an online checker to let people check if they are eligible for examinations for key health indicators.
In an bid to clarify health tests and illustrate the benefit of timely identification there will be a direct feed from cancer clinics at medical facilities in Cambridge.
"The goal is to remove the anxiety out of health checks and demonstrate all people that they are not isolated in this," commented one of the hosts.
The Landscape of Health Checks
At present in the UK, there are a number of NHS cancer screening programmes - for major health concerns - available to specific demographics.
A recently launched lung cancer screening programme is also being gradually implemented for anyone at potential risk of being diagnosed with the disease, primarily aimed at people in a specific age bracket, who currently smoke or have smoked in the past.
Individuals may request prostate screenings, but there is lacking a standardised service currently available.
Funding Research
The fundraising campaign, which has generated a significant sum since 2012, is financing 73 medical projects involving many patients.
King Charles, in a statement for guests at a gathering for cancer charities in the spring, had spoken of acknowledging the "daunting and at times alarming reality" for cancer sufferers and their support networks.
But he said his personal journey of managing cancer had demonstrated that "the most difficult times of disease can be illuminated by the greatest compassion," as he commended those who looked after individuals with the illness.
Royal representatives has not made public what kind of cancer the King has, or the therapies he has undergone. The King's cancer was discovered after he had had a prostate procedure.
