Monarch to Deliver Personal Statement on Illness in TV Programme

The Monarch has recorded a intimate address concerning his journey with cancer, set to air as part of this year's Stand Up To Cancer initiative, spearheaded by Cancer Research UK and a television broadcaster.

Buckingham Palace said the King would reflect on his "path to recovery" as a cancer patient, in a recorded address on Friday evening at 8pm UK time.

The address, filmed within his London residence a fortnight ago, will stress the critical nature of cancer screening checks to increase the likelihood more people detect the disease at an initial point.

This represents a uncommon insight on the health of the Sovereign, who has been receiving ongoing care since revealing his diagnosis in early last year. However, it is believed unlikely the King will specify his type of cancer.

Awareness Central Purpose

The annual charity campaign each year generates donations for scientific studies and patient care and encourages people to get check-ups to improve the odds of an early diagnosis.

The King's relative openness about his illness, and his experience as a patient, has been intended to increase understanding and to persuade more people to get checked - and this will be escalated with this unusual royal involvement.

So far the King's primary strategy to his cancer has been to maintain his duties, preserving a hectic timetable despite his frequent sessions of treatment, and he is understood not to have wanted to be defined by his diagnosis.

The past twelve months has seen the Sovereign, taking several foreign visits, such as visits to Italy and Canada, and receiving the highest tally of foreign dignitaries to the UK for decades, which included the German president in recent days.

The Televised Special Show

This Friday's Stand Up to Cancer broadcast on television, featuring celebrities like a team of famous hosts, will encourage people not to be afraid of getting cancer checks.

All three have been personally touched by cancer - one host revealed last month she had undergone surgery for a tumour, while another presenter was overcame the illness in the past. Comedian Hills has previously discussed his father, who had one form of cancer and then later leukaemia.

The broadcast will reach out to the approximate nine million people in the UK who Cancer Research UK state are not up to date with national health programmes, with an website to let people determine if they are qualified for tests for several common cancers.

In an effort to demystify health tests and show the importance of prompt detection there will be a live broadcast from hospital departments at two Cambridge hospitals in Cambridge.

"I want to remove the anxiety surrounding preventative tests and show everyone that they are not on their own in this," commented Davina McCall.

Understanding National Services

Currently in the UK, there are a number of publicly available checks - for bowel, breast and cervical cancer - available to certain age groups.

A emerging scheme for lung health is also being gradually implemented for individuals at increased risk of being diagnosed with the illness, specifically targeting people aged 55-74 years old, who currently smoke or have smoked in the past.

Individuals may request prostate screenings, but there is not a universal scheme currently available.

Funding Research

The charity project, which has collected £113m for many years, is supporting multiple medical projects encompassing 13,000 patients.

The Monarch, in a message for guests at a gathering for related organisations in April, had referred to recognising the "intimidating and at times scary experience" for patients and their families.

But he said his personal journey of coping with cancer had shown him that "the most difficult times of sickness can be illuminated by the greatest compassion," as he thanked those who supported those receiving treatment.

Official sources has not revealed the specific type of cancer the King has, or the therapies he has been given. The King's cancer was discovered after he had undergone a prostate procedure.