Monarch to Broadcast First-Hand Statement on Cancer in Television Programme
His Majesty has taped a personal message concerning his battle with cancer, scheduled for transmission as part of this year's Stand Up To Cancer drive, run by Cancer Research UK and a major network.
Official sources said the King would discuss his "recovery journey" as a individual battling cancer, in a video message on Friday evening at 8pm UK time.
The address, recorded at Clarence House recently, will emphasise the importance of cancer screening checks to ensure more people diagnose the disease at an early stage.
This will be a uncommon insight on the health of the Sovereign, who has been in a course of therapy since his condition was announced in early last year. But it is thought doubtful the King will specify his specific form of cancer.
Awareness Core Mission
The Stand Up To Cancer initiative each year generates donations for scientific studies and treatment and urges people to get health assessments to increase the probability of an timely detection.
The King's public discussion about his illness, and his experience as a patient, has been intended to raise awareness and to encourage more people to get screened - and this will be taken a step further with this unique personal contribution.
Up until now the King's key philosophy to his cancer has been to continue his schedule, maintaining a busy schedule despite his regular rounds of care, and he seems not to have sought to be overshadowed by his diagnosis.
This year has seen the King, 77, undertaking several foreign visits, such as visits to Italy and Canada, and receiving the largest volume of foreign dignitaries to the UK for decades, featuring the German president last week.
The Televised Broadcast Event
Friday evening's Stand Up to Cancer show on television, presented by presenters such as a team of famous hosts, will encourage people not to be scared of getting preventative tests.
All three have been had experience with cancer - Davina McCall said recently she had had an operation for breast cancer, while Clare Balding was overcame thyroid cancer in the past. Host Adam Hills has previously spoken about his late father, who had a diagnosis and then later another illness.
The show will target the roughly nine million people in the UK who Cancer Research UK says are not up to date with national health programmes, with an digital tool to let people check if they are qualified for tests for breast, bowel and cervical cancer.
In an effort to explain cancer checks and demonstrate the benefit of timely identification there will be a live broadcast from hospital departments at two Cambridge hospitals in Cambridge.
"I want to take the fear surrounding health checks and show the public that they are not alone in this," stated a presenter.
Understanding National Services
Currently in the UK, there are several key publicly available checks - for bowel, breast and cervical cancer - accessible for certain age groups.
A emerging scheme for lung health is also being slowly rolled out for people at potential risk of being diagnosed with the illness, focusing on people of a certain age, who currently smoke or were former smokers.
Men may enquire about prostate cancer checks, but there is not a universal scheme operational.
Ongoing Efforts
The Stand Up to Cancer initiative, which has generated a significant sum over the past decade, is supporting multiple clinical trials encompassing many patients.
The Monarch, in a message for guests at a event for related organisations in the spring, had spoken of understanding the "overwhelming and at times frightening reality" for patients and their families.
But he said his experience of living with cancer had revealed that "the darkest moments of sickness can be alleviated by the kindness of others," as he praised those who cared for those receiving treatment.
The Palace has not revealed the specific type of cancer the King has, or the therapies he has received. The King's cancer was detected subsequent to he had had a prostate procedure.
