King to Share Personal Message on Illness in Television Address

The Monarch has filmed a first-hand account regarding his battle with cancer, which will be broadcast as part of this year's Stand Up To Cancer campaign, spearheaded by a leading cancer charity and a major network.

The royal household said the King would discuss his "path to recovery" as a person living with the disease, in a televised statement on Friday at 8pm UK time.

The address, taped inside a royal residence two weeks ago, will emphasise the vital significance of cancer screening checks to help guarantee more people detect the illness at an early stage.

This represents a uncommon insight on the wellbeing of the Sovereign, who has been undergoing regular treatment since his condition was announced in early last year. But it is thought unlikely the King will identify his specific form of cancer.

Fundraising Central Purpose

The Stand Up To Cancer campaign each year collects money for medical research and therapies and urges people to get screenings to increase the odds of an early diagnosis.

The King's candid approach about his health challenge, and managing the disease, has been intended to raise awareness and to encourage more people to get checked - and this will be escalated with this exceptional royal involvement.

To date the King's key philosophy to his cancer has been to keep working, preserving a hectic timetable alongside his ongoing course of care, and he seems not to have wanted to be overshadowed by his condition.

Recently has seen the King, 77, embarking on several overseas trips, such as visits to Italy and Canada, and receiving the largest volume of official guests to the UK for a generation, including the German president recently.

Friday's Evening Programme

This Friday's charity show on Channel 4, hosted by celebrities including a team of famous hosts, will encourage people not to be frightened of getting preventative tests.

The hosts have been personally touched by cancer - McCall said last month she had received treatment for the disease, while another presenter was treated for the illness in the past. Comedian Adam Hills has previously mentioned his parent, who had one form of cancer and then later leukaemia.

The show will appeal to the roughly nine million people in the UK who Cancer Research UK estimate are not current with national health programmes, with an website to let people see if they are qualified for tests for several common cancers.

In an bid to explain screenings and illustrate the value of prompt detection there will be a direct feed from hospital departments at two Cambridge hospitals in Cambridge.

"My aim is to remove the anxiety from health checks and demonstrate all people that they are not on their own in this," stated Davina McCall.

Available National Services

Right now in the UK, there are three NHS cancer screening programmes - for specific cancers - offered to eligible individuals.

A recently launched lung cancer screening programme is also being gradually implemented for anyone at potential risk of being diagnosed with the disease, focusing on people in a specific age bracket, who are smokers or used to.

Individuals may enquire about prostate screenings, but there is no national programme operational.

Charitable Impact

The Stand Up to Cancer project, which has collected over one hundred million pounds since 2012, is supporting 73 medical projects with 13,000 patients.

His Majesty, in a address for attendees at a event for cancer charities in the spring, had referred to acknowledging the "daunting and at times frightening experience" for those diagnosed and their support networks.

But he said his experience of managing cancer had demonstrated that "periods of great challenge of disease can be alleviated by the support of carers," as he praised those who looked after cancer patients.

Royal representatives has not made public what kind of cancer the King has, or the medical care he has been given. The King's cancer was discovered after he had had a prostate procedure.