LONDON — King Charles III said on Friday that an early diagnosis allowed doctors to scale back his cancer treatment this year, and he urged people to use screening programs that can find disease when it is easiest to treat.
The 77-year-old monarch delivered the message in a recorded broadcast for a screening awareness campaign. “Early diagnosis quite simply saves lives,” he said, adding that early detection made a difference in his own case and has enabled him “to continue leading a full and active life even while undergoing treatment.”
Buckingham Palace said his treatment has moved into a “precautionary phase” and that his condition will be monitored to ensure continued recovery. Since his February 2024 announcement, Charles has used his experience to promote cancer awareness; British cancer charities reported increased interest from people seeking information after he disclosed he was receiving treatment.
The king has not named the type of cancer or the specific therapies he is receiving. The palace said that was deliberate so his message would speak to the whole cancer community: cancer experts advised that, in his determination to support everyone affected, it was preferable he did not focus on his own particular condition but instead addressed those living with all forms of the disease.
His cancer was detected after treatment for an enlarged prostate; while prostate cancer was ruled out, further tests identified “a separate issue of concern,” palace officials said. Charles stepped back from public engagements for about two months to concentrate on treatment and recovery, while continuing state business and constitutional duties.
He returned to public view in April with a visit to the cancer-treatment center at University College Hospital in central London, meeting staff and patients. He spoke with empathy to people undergoing chemotherapy, saying, “It’s always a bit of a shock, isn’t it, when they tell you.”
Concluding his recorded appeal, the king linked compassion with practical action, urging people to combine care for others with steps that help detect cancer early. He asked that, as people reflect on the past year, they pledge to play a part in catching cancer early: “Your life — or the life of someone you love — may depend upon it.”