Sunak says King Charles III's cancer has been "detected early"

THE WORLD | Agencies

Updated Tuesday, February 6, 2024-08:49

• United Kingdom Charles III announces that he has cancer

The British Prime Minister,

Rishi Sunak

, has detailed that the cancer suffered by

King Charles III

has been detected in time. He expressed this on BBC radio, where he stated that he was shocked and saddened by the diagnosis. Sunak has also added that he was in regular contact with the king and that this contact would continue during his treatment.

Buckingham Palace

reported

this Monday that the sovereign was detected with cancer, without specifying what type, during his hospitalization following an operation for "benign" prostate hypertrophy that he underwent on January 26. This diagnosis comes only a year and a half after succeeding his mother,

Elizabeth II

, and nine months after being crowned.

The king's illness monopolizes the front pages of the British press. "I have cancer," headlines The Sun, while the Daily Mirror speaks of 'shock', and the Daily Telegraph opens with a laconic "The king has cancer."

Despite the transparency on the part of the monarchy in reporting on the disease, in a clear break compared to its predecessors, whether its mother Elizabeth II, or its grandfather

George VI

, Buckingham Palace did not delve into what type of cancer suffers.

The only information that the royal house leaked is that it is not prostate cancer, precisely the organ that has just been operated on.

According to Cancer Research UK, the most common cancers among men over 75 are bladder, bowel, lung, melanoma, skin and prostate cancer.

"Regular treatments"

"Surgery is usually the first treatment tried for most types of cancer, according to the NHS," the

British National Health Service

, wrote The Times newspaper after news of the king's illness broke.

"However, the statement from Buckingham Palace says that the king 'has begun a program of regular treatments'. This suggests another type of treatment such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy or immunotherapy," the newspaper adds.

The royal house did not give details of the severity and scope of the cancer, but stated that transparency by announcing the type of ailment seeks to push citizens to undergo tests for an

early diagnosis

. This was also the objective when it was announced that the sovereign had to undergo surgery for a prostate problem.

"We hope that King Charles III's treatment goes well. As always, if anyone has any symptoms or signs of cancer, please come in for a check," said

Amanda Pritchard

, chief executive of the NHS.

The announcement of the king's cancer coincided with another that reported, also on Monday, the return of his eldest son,

William

, to public activity. Guillermo had annulled all of his actions since January 16 to be at the side of his wife Catalina, who underwent an "abdominal" operation,

The king's son and wife, William and Queen

Camilla

, 76, will be busy representing the monarchy in various scheduled events these days, while Charles III undergoes his treatment.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "Several of the king's upcoming public engagements will have to be rearranged or postponed."