Answering some of the questions around King’s cancer diagnosis
King Charles III has become one of hundreds of thousands of Britons diagnosed with cancer every year. Here are some questions answered about what is known so far about Charles’ condition, as he apologised following the decision to postpone his coming public duties.
What type of cancer has the King been diagnosed with?
The King has been diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer. Buckingham Palace said that during Charles’s recent procedure for a benign prostate enlargement, a “separate issue of concern” was noted. Further diagnostic tests have identified “a form of cancer”, the Palace said.
What kind of diagnostic tests were performed on the King? Details of the type of test have not been divulged, but diagnostic tests for cancer can involvebloodtests,scansand biopsies.
What is being done?
The Palace has confirmed that Charles started “a schedule of regular treatments”. This could involve chemotherapy – a medicine is used tokillcancercells;radiotherapy – a treatment where radiation is used to kill cancer cells; or targeted cancer drugs that find and attack cancer cells.
He will be treated as an “outpatient”, which means he will not have to stay in hospital.
How is the King feeling?
The Palace say the King “remains wholly positive about his treatment” and “looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible”.
Will the King’s awareness? Onthedayaftertheannouncement of an enlarged prostate, there were 16,410 visits to the NHS website’s prostate enlargement page compared with 1,414 visits the previous day. Buckingham Palace said the King chose to share his cancer diagnosis to “prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer”.
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How many people are diagnosed with cancer every year in the UK? According to Macmillan Cancer Support, around 393,000 people in the UK are diagnosed with cancer.