King Says He Can ‘Deliver Positive Tidings’ His Therapy Will Be Lessened.
The King has conveyed “positive updates” about his illness, saying in a video statement that timely identification and “successful treatment” means his medical regimen can be reduced in the upcoming months.
In a filmed statement broadcast for the Cancer Fundraising campaign, the King said: “This development is both a private comfort and a demonstration to the significant progress that have been made in medical oncology.”
This news that he is showing improvement to care is the biggest update on the King’s condition since he revealed his diagnosis earlier this year.
The type of cancer has not been identified and therapy and check-ups will continue, but he said: “Early diagnosis quite simply can be lifesaving.”
Official Position
As per official sources, the King’s progress has reached a highly encouraging phase and he has “reacted very favorably to treatment”, with such success that medical professionals will now move his treatment “to a monitoring stage”.
The schedule of treatment is going to be significantly reduced - but the King is not considered being in remission or “free of cancer”.
“Today I am privileged to announce with you the hopeful update that thanks to early diagnosis, appropriate care and following ‘{doctors' orders|medical advice|clinical guidance’, my own regimen of medical care can be lessened in the new year,” the King said in his address.
Message of Hope
The recorded address, recorded recently, was broadcast in the Stand Up To Cancer show, in a fundraising project.
The campaign urges more people to seek checks for cancer and to utilize national screening schemes - and the King’s message highlighted the importance of screenings to detect cancer at an early stage.
“I know that a positive test result can feel daunting. But I also know that timely discovery is the essential element that can change patient outcomes, giving crucial lead time to clinical staff,” said the King.
Timely discovery could be a critical intervention, he said: “A person’s life, or the future of someone you care for, may depend upon it.”
The King also mentioned how much he had been “deeply touched by what I can only call the ‘circle of compassion’ that envelops every cancer patient - the specialists, the care staff, investigators and volunteers who work incessantly to preserve and enhance lives”.
Until now the King has said very little publicly about his condition.
He seemed unwilling to be characterized by the condition and his stance has been to keep working, with a busy schedule including state visits and entertaining dignitaries.
Statistical Reality
The awareness show has encouraged people not to be frightened of getting cancer checks.
In a targeted appeal, the show has focused on the estimated nine million people who are said to be not compliant with screening schemes, offering an web-based resource to let people see if they are qualified for examinations for specific forms of cancer.
The King said it “concerns me greatly” that this equates to nine million lost chances to find cancer promptly - and he exhorted people to use the online tool.
“The data speak with blunt reality. As an illustration: When bowel cancer is caught at the earliest stage, around 90% people survive for at least five years. When diagnosed late, that plummets to just one in 10,” he said.
As stated by sources, the King’s reference to a specific cancer should not be seen as linked to his own illness, and other types of cancer have previously been excluded.
In an attempt to clarify cancer checks and show the benefit of timely discovery the show featured a real-time segment from oncology units.
Screening Landscape
At present there are three public cancer preventative schemes - for key cancer types - available to specific age groups.
A emerging pulmonary cancer detection scheme is also being slowly rolled out for anyone at increased risk of getting the illness, specifically targeting people in an older age bracket who have a background of tobacco use.
People may seek specific cancer tests, but there is no universal scheme in place.
The fundraising project, which has collected a large amount since its inception, is financing dozens of research projects involving thousands of participants.
A leading cancer organization director said well-known people talking frankly about cancer can motivate others to have a screening.
“Identifying cancer early can make a significant impact and gives the best chance for successful treatment,” she said.
