Monarch to Broadcast Personal Message on Cancer in Nationwide Address

The Monarch has filmed a intimate address concerning his journey with cancer, scheduled for transmission as part of this year's Stand Up To Cancer drive, spearheaded by a leading cancer charity and Channel 4.

Buckingham Palace said the King would discuss his "recovery journey" as a individual battling cancer, in a video message on this Friday at 8pm UK time.

The recording, filmed within a royal residence a fortnight ago, will highlight the importance of cancer screening checks to help guarantee more people diagnose the illness at an initial point.

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

Awareness Primary Goal

The annual charity event each year raises funds for medical research and patient care and urges people to get check-ups to improve the odds of an early diagnosis.

The King's relative openness about his illness, and living with cancer, has been aimed to promote education and to get more people to get tested - and this will be escalated with this unique royal involvement.

To date the King's key philosophy to his cancer has been to continue his schedule, preserving a hectic timetable despite his regular rounds of treatment, and he seems not to have wanted to be characterised by his illness.

This year has seen the 77-year-old Monarch, undertaking several international tours, notably to Italy and Canada, and receiving the largest volume of inward state visits to the UK for almost 40 years, featuring the German president in recent days.

Charity Evening Programme

This Friday's Stand Up to Cancer programme on Channel 4, hosted by celebrities including Davina McCall, Adam Hills and Clare Balding, will encourage people not to be scared of getting preventative tests.

Each presenter have been had experience with cancer - McCall said in November she had undergone surgery for breast cancer, while Balding was diagnosed with a thyroid condition in the past. Comedian Hills has previously spoken about his late father, who had one form of cancer and then later another illness.

The programme will reach out to the estimated millions of people in the UK who health organisations estimate are not up to date with NHS screening schemes, with an online checker to let people check if they are able for tests for breast, bowel and cervical cancer.

In an attempt to explain cancer checks and illustrate the value of early diagnosis there will be a direct feed from cancer clinics at medical facilities in Cambridge.

"I want to take the fear from cancer screening and prove all people that they are not alone in this," commented Davina McCall.

The Landscape of Screening Programmes

Right now in the UK, there are three national health screening services - for specific cancers - offered to certain age groups.

A emerging scheme for lung health is also being gradually implemented for people at increased risk of contracting the condition, primarily aimed at people in a specific age bracket, who currently smoke or have smoked in the past.

Men may enquire about prostate cancer checks, but there is not a universal scheme operational.

Funding Research

The Stand Up to Cancer initiative, which has generated a significant sum since 2012, is supporting multiple clinical trials with 13,000 patients.

His Majesty, in a statement for attendees at a gathering for related organisations in the spring, had discussed understanding the "daunting and at times alarming reality" for cancer sufferers and their families.

But he stated his first-hand encounter of living with cancer had revealed that "the darkest moments of disease can be alleviated by the kindness of others," as he commended those who looked after cancer patients.

Royal representatives has not made public the nature of cancer the King has, or what treatment he has undergone. The King's cancer was identified subsequent to he had undergone a medical treatment.