King to Deliver Intimate Message on Illness in Television Broadcast
His Majesty has filmed a intimate address concerning his experience with cancer, scheduled for transmission as part of this year's annual cancer awareness drive, organised by a leading cancer charity and a television broadcaster.
Buckingham Palace stated the King would discuss his "healing process" as a cancer patient, in a televised statement on this Friday at the evening slot.
The recording, taped inside Clarence House a fortnight ago, will emphasise the critical nature of preventative health checks to increase the likelihood more people catch the disease at an treatable phase.
This represents a rare update on the health of the Monarch, who has been in a course of therapy since revealing his diagnosis in early last year. Analysts suggest unlikely the King will identify his specific form of cancer.
The Campaign's Core Mission
The Stand Up To Cancer initiative each year raises funds for medical research and therapies and prompts people to get screenings to improve the chances of an early diagnosis.
The King's candid approach about his health challenge, and living with cancer, has been intended to raise awareness and to encourage more people to get tested - and this will be taken a step further with this unusual personal contribution.
To date the King's primary strategy to his cancer has been to maintain his duties, upholding a busy schedule despite his regular rounds of therapy, and he is understood not to have sought to be characterised by his diagnosis.
This year has seen the Sovereign, taking several international tours, notably to Italy and Canada, and receiving the largest volume of foreign dignitaries to the UK for almost 40 years, including the German president recently.
Charity Broadcast Event
The upcoming Stand Up to Cancer broadcast on the network, hosted by well-known figures including a team of famous hosts, will appeal to people not to be scared of getting health screenings.
Each presenter have been affected by cancer - one host disclosed in November she had received treatment for the disease, while Balding was overcame thyroid cancer more than 15 years ago. Host Hills has previously discussed his father, who had one form of cancer and then later leukaemia.
The broadcast will appeal to the estimated millions of people in the UK who Cancer Research UK says are not current with NHS screening schemes, with an website to let people see if they are able for screenings for breast, bowel and cervical cancer.
In an bid to explain cancer checks and show the benefit of timely identification there will be a direct feed from hospital departments at Addenbrooke's and Royal Papworth hospitals in Cambridge.
"My aim is to reduce the stigma from cancer screening and demonstrate the public that they are not on their own in this," said Davina McCall.
Understanding National Services
At present in the UK, there are a number of national health screening services - for specific cancers - accessible for eligible individuals.
A new scheme for lung health is also being phased in for people at increased risk of contracting the condition, specifically targeting people aged 55-74 years old, who are smokers or have smoked in the past.
Male patients may request prostate screenings, but there is no national programme in place.
Funding Research
The fundraising campaign, which has raised £113m over the past decade, is financing multiple medical projects involving 13,000 patients.
The Monarch, in a address for guests at a event for support groups in April, had referred to recognising the "intimidating and at times alarming experience" for those diagnosed and their loved ones.
But he stated his experience of managing cancer had shown him that "periods of great challenge of sickness can be brightened by the support of carers," as he thanked those who cared for individuals with the illness.
Official sources has not made public the nature of cancer the King has, or the medical care he has received. The King's cancer was detected following he had received a prostate procedure.
