King Charles shares the ‘good news’ that his cancer treatment will be reduced

King Charles has shared “good news” about his cancer, saying in a personal message that early diagnosis and “effective intervention” mean his treatment can be reduced in the new year.

In a videotaped message broadcast on Channel 4 for the Stand Up To Cancer campaign, the King said: “This milestone is both a personal blessing and a testament to the remarkable progress that has been made in cancer care.”

This news that he is responding well to treatment is the biggest update on the King’s health since he revealed his diagnosis in February 2024.

The type of cancer has not been identified and treatment and monitoring will continue, but he said: “Early diagnosis simply saves lives.”

According to Buckingham Palace, the king’s recovery has reached a very positive state and he has “responded exceptionally well to treatment”, to the point that doctors will now move his treatment “into a precautionary phase”.

The regularity of treatment will be significantly reduced, but the 77-year-old King is not said to be in remission or “cured.”

“Today I can share with you the good news that thanks to early diagnosis, effective intervention and compliance with ‘doctor’s orders’, my own cancer treatment schedule can be reduced in the new year,” the King said in his speech.

The video message, recorded at Clarence House two weeks ago, was played on Channel 4’s Stand Up To Cancer program on Friday night, in a fundraising project run with Cancer Research UK.

The campaign encourages more people to get cancer screening and take advantage of national screening programmes, and the King’s message highlighted the importance of screening to detect cancer at an early stage.

“I know from personal experience that a cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming. However, I also know that early detection is the key that can transform the treatment process, giving medical teams invaluable time,” said the King.

Early detection could save lives, he said: “Your life, or the life of someone you love, may depend on it.”

The King also spoke of how much he had been “deeply moved by what I can only call the ‘community of care’ that surrounds every cancer patient: the specialists, nurses, researchers and volunteers who work tirelessly to save and improve lives.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the king’s announcement was a “powerful message”.

“I know I speak for the entire country when I say how glad I am that his cancer treatment will be reduced in the new year,” he added.

So far the King has said little publicly about his illness.

He did not seem to want to be defined by the illness and his approach has been to continue working, with a busy schedule that includes trips abroad and state visits, including that of the German president last week.

A couple of days ago he was sending a message of optimism and seasonal “hope” when he attended an evocative candlelight Advent service at Westminster Abbey.

The Stand Up To Cancer show, presented by celebrities including Davina McCall, Adam Hills and Clare Balding, has urged people not to be afraid to have cancer checks.

In particular, the program has appealed to the estimated nine million people in the UK who Cancer Research UK says are not up to date with NHS screening programs by offering an online checker to allow people to see if they are eligible for breast, bowel and cervical cancer testing.

The King said he is “deeply concerned” that this represents nine million missed opportunities to detect cancer early, and urged people to use the online screening checker tool.

“The statistics speak absolutely clearly. To give just one example: when bowel cancer is detected at its earliest stage, around nine in 10 people survive for at least five years. When diagnosed late, that figure drops to just one in 10,” he said.

According to royal sources, the King’s reference to bowel cancer must not be related to his own illness, as prostate cancer had previously been ruled out.

In a bid to demystify cancer screening and show the value of early diagnosis, the Stand Up To Cancer program was broadcast live from the cancer clinics at Addenbrooke’s and Royal Papworth hospitals in Cambridge.

“I want to take the fear out of cancer screenings and show everyone that they are not alone in this,” said McCall, 58, who recently said she was recovering from breast cancer surgery.

Currently in the UK there are three NHS cancer screening programs (bowel, breast and cervical) available for certain age groups.

A new lung cancer screening program is also slowly being rolled out for anyone at high risk of developing the disease, specifically targeting people aged 55 to 74, who currently smoke or used to smoke.

Men can ask about prostate cancer screening, but there is no national program.

The Stand Up to Cancer project, which has raised £113 million since 2012, funds 73 clinical trials involving 13,000 cancer patients.

Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said public figures who speak openly about cancer can encourage others to get checked.

“Detecting cancer early can make a real difference and provide the best chance for successful treatment,” he said.