King to Share First-Hand Statement on Cancer in Television Address
The Monarch has filmed a intimate address concerning his experience with cancer, set to air as part of this year's fundraising drive, run by medical research organisations and a television broadcaster.
The royal household confirmed the King would talk about his "path to recovery" as a person living with the disease, in a video message on this Friday at 20:00 GMT.
The message, taped inside a royal residence a fortnight ago, will emphasise the importance of cancer screening checks to help guarantee more people diagnose the disease at an early stage.
This represents a rare update on the wellbeing of the Monarch, who has been receiving ongoing care since his condition was announced in early last year. Analysts suggest doubtful the King will disclose his specific form of cancer.
The Campaign's Central Purpose
The awareness event each year collects money for medical research and treatment and urges people to get screenings to increase the chances of an timely detection.
The King's public discussion about his illness, and living with cancer, has been aimed to raise awareness and to persuade more people to get screened - and this will be advanced with this unique personal contribution.
So far the King's main approach to his cancer has been to keep working, maintaining a busy schedule alongside his ongoing course of treatment, and he appears not to have wanted to be overshadowed by his diagnosis.
Recently has seen the 77-year-old Monarch, embarking on several foreign visits, such as visits to Italy and Canada, and hosting the highest tally of foreign dignitaries to the UK for decades, which included the German president last week.
Charity Broadcast Event
This Friday's charity show on Channel 4, presented by celebrities such as Davina McCall, Adam Hills and Clare Balding, will urge people not to be frightened of getting health screenings.
The hosts have been personally touched by cancer - McCall disclosed in November she had received treatment for a tumour, while another presenter was treated for the illness in the past. Comedian Adam Hills has previously spoken about his father, who had one form of cancer and then later another illness.
The programme will reach out to the estimated 9m people in the UK who charities state are not up to date with national health programmes, with an online checker to let people check if they are eligible for tests for breast, bowel and cervical cancer.
In an bid to explain screenings and show the importance of prompt detection there will be a real-time transmission from hospital departments at Addenbrooke's and Royal Papworth hospitals in Cambridge.
"My aim is to take the fear surrounding preventative tests and prove all people that they are not alone in this," stated one of the hosts.
Available Health Checks
Currently in the UK, there are a number of NHS cancer screening programmes - 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 illness, primarily aimed at people of a certain age, who currently smoke or used to.
Men may enquire about prostate cancer checks, but there is not a universal scheme currently available.
Ongoing Efforts
The charity project, which has collected over one hundred million pounds over the past decade, is funding 73 medical projects involving many patients.
His Majesty, in a statement for attendees at a reception for support groups in earlier this year, had spoken of recognising the "overwhelming and at times frightening reality" for patients and their families.
But he stated his experience of managing cancer had revealed that "the most difficult times of disease can be brightened by the greatest compassion," as he commended those who supported those receiving treatment.
The Palace has not made public what kind of cancer the King has, or the therapies he has received. The King's cancer was discovered after he had received a medical treatment.
