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king charles has issued a heartfelt appeal to people across the UK to take part cancer Screening, charting her “remarkable” personal health journey and highlighting the millions of missed opportunities for early diagnosis.
Support in a recorded message stand up to cancerDescribing it as a “personal blessing”, the Emperor announced that his own treatment would be reduced in the new year.
Reflecting on his experiences, King revealed that he was “extremely disturbed” to learn that at least nine million people in the UK are not up to date with the cancer screening available to them.
Here is the full message:
It is a season when our thoughts turn to celebrating with our friends and families.
Amidst this festive period, I just want to ask you to join me today in holding a special place in your hearts and minds and prayers for the millions of people across our United Kingdom who receive a cancer diagnosis each year – and for the millions of people who love and care for them.
I know from experience that a cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming.
Yet I also know that early detection is the key that can transform the treatment journey, giving medical teams precious time – and, to their patients, the priceless gift of hope.
These are gifts we can all help distribute.
Throughout my cancer journey, I have been deeply influenced by what I can only call the “community of care” that surrounds every cancer patient – specialists, nurses, researchers and volunteers who work tirelessly to save and improve lives.
But I also learned something that deeply concerns me – at least nine million people in our country are not up to date on the cancer screenings available to them.
This means that at least nine million opportunities for early diagnosis have been missed.
The statistics speak clearly. To take just one example: When bowel cancer is caught early, about nine in 10 people survive for at least five years. With late diagnosis, this leaves only one in 10.
Early diagnosis easily saves lives.
Now, I’ve heard this message again and again during visits to cancer centers across the country. I also know what a difference it has made in my case, enabling me to live a full and active life even during treatment.
In fact, today I am able to share with you the good news that due to early diagnosis, effective intervention, and following “doctors’ orders”, my own schedule of cancer treatments may be reduced in the new year.
This milestone is a personal blessing and a testament to the remarkable advances that have been made in cancer care in recent years; I hope this testimony can provide encouragement to the 50 percent of us who will be diagnosed with this disease at some point in our lives.
Still, I’m told that often people avoid screening because they think it may be scary, embarrassing, or inconvenient.
If and when they finally accept their invitation, they are glad they attended. A few moments of minor discomfort is a small price to pay for the reassurance that comes to most people when they are either told that they do not need further tests, or, for some, are given the chance to be able to detect early with life-saving intervention.
That’s why I’m so encouraged to learn about the new National Screening Checker that is available online. This simple tool allows you to check whether you are eligible for breast, bowel or cervical cancer screening. It highlights the process, answers your questions, and guides you to take that important step.
As I’ve seen before, the darkest moments of illness can be illuminated by the greatest compassion. But compassion must be coupled with action.
This December, as we gather to reflect on the past year, I pray that as part of our resolutions for the coming year, we can pledge to do our part in helping catch cancer early.
Your life – or the life of a loved one – may depend on it.
Therefore, it is my heartfelt thanks to the doctors, nurses, researchers and charity workers involved in the diagnosis and treatment programs, as well as my special good wishes to the people they selflessly care for.