King Charles has been receiving treatment for cancer since early last year.
🔹 What is known about King Charles’ health 🔹 Timeline of his cancer treatment 🔹 How the Palace is handling public updates 🔹 What this means for the royal family moving forward
💬 Share your thoughts and well wishes in the comments.
00:00This is a season when our thoughts turn to celebrations with our friends and families.
00:06In the midst of this festive period, I just wanted to ask you to join me today in finding a special place in your hearts and your minds and prayers
00:17for the hundreds of thousands of people across our United Kingdom who receive a cancer diagnosis each year
00:24and for the millions more who love and care for them.
00:29I know from my own experience that a cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming.
00:36Yet I also know that early detection is the key that can transform treatment journeys,
00:43giving invaluable time to medical teams and to their patients the precious gift of hope.
00:52These are gifts we can all help deliver.
00:54Throughout my own cancer journey, I've been profoundly moved by what I can only call the community of care
01:04that surrounds every cancer patient.
01:07The specialists, the nurses, researchers and volunteers who work tirelessly to save and improve lives.
01:16But I have also learned something that troubles me deeply.
01:20At least 9 million people in our country are not up to date with the cancer screenings available to them.
01:27That is, at least 9 million opportunities for early diagnosis being missed.
01:33The statistics speak with stark clarity.
01:37To take just one example, when bowel cancer is caught at the earliest stage,
01:44around 9 in 10 people survive for at least 5 years.
01:49When diagnosed late, that falls to just 1 in 10.
01:54Early diagnosis, quite simply saves lives.
02:00Now, I've heard this message repeatedly during my visits to cancer centres across the country.
02:07I know, too, what a difference it has made in my own case,
02:12enabling me to continue leading a full and active life, even while undergoing treatment.
02:18Indeed, today I am able to share with you the good news that thanks to early diagnosis,
02:27effective intervention and adherence to doctors' orders,
02:32my own schedule of cancer treatment can be reduced in the new year.
02:38This milestone is both a personal blessing and a testimony
02:43to the remarkable advances that have been made in cancer care in recent years.
02:50Testimony that I hope may give encouragement to the 50% of us
02:55who will be diagnosed with the illness at some point in our lives.
03:01Yet, too often, I am told people avoid screening
03:06because they imagine it may be frightening, embarrassing or uncomfortable.
03:13If and when they do finally take up their invitation,
03:18they are glad they took part.
03:21A few moments of minor inconvenience are a small price to pay
03:27for the reassurance that comes for most people
03:30when they are either told they don't need further tests
03:34or, for some, are given the chance to enable early detection
03:39with the life-saving intervention that can follow.
03:44This is why I am so encouraged to learn about the new national screening checker
03:51that is available online.
03:53This simple tool allows you to check whether you are eligible
03:58eligible for breast, bowel, or cervical cancer screening.
04:02It demystifies the process, answers your questions,
04:07and guides you towards taking that crucial step.
04:12As I have observed before,
04:15the darkest moments of illness
04:17can be illuminated by the greatest compassion.
04:21But compassion must be paired with action.
04:27This December, as we gather to reflect on the year past,
04:32I pray that we could each pledge,
04:35as part of our resolutions for the year ahead,
04:39to play our part in helping to catch cancer early.
04:43Your life, or the life of someone you love,
04:47may depend upon it.
04:49Therefore, this brings my most heartfelt thanks
04:54to the doctors, nurses, researchers,
04:58and charity workers involved in diagnosis and treatment programmes,
Be the first to comment