King Charles had broken a long-standing royal tradition when Buckingham Palace released the statement about the monarch’s shocking cancer diagnosis.
Despite the health setback, Charles had remained positive and carried on with his royal duties, all while undergoing weekly treatments for the cancer. Over a year has passed and Charles revealed on Friday that his treatment may be reduced as he has been feeling better.
Although the palace has provided sufficient information about the king’s health, the only thing that has been strictly guarded in a vault is the type of cancer he has. Royal watchers have pondered that if the palace can reveal the cancer news, why does the type remain unrevealed.
This has been a deliberate move at the insistence of cancer experts and doctors, as a spokesperson finally explains the reasoning behind it.
“The advice from cancer experts is that in his desire to support the whole cancer community, it is preferable that His Majesty does not address his own specific condition, but rather speaks to those affected by all forms of the disease,” the palace spokesman said in a statement.
Cancer doctors have previously pointed out that celebrity diagnoses may come with good intentions, but they often have a negative impact on the medical experts and researchers.
Attention and resources end up going to research treatment for a particular type of cancer rather than the disease as a whole. This can sometimes overshadow other important aspects. Therefore, Charles’ message is meant to shine a light on those with rare cancers, aggressive cancers, slow moving cancers, undiagnosed cancers, incurable cancers.
