King Charles has cancer

[CormorantStrikesBack]

Just announced on the bbc, doesn’t say what sort yet. Hope he’s going to be ok.

A sensible head would say that this is difficult news for any family, especially after a big family rift. And that always means that the return estranged person is made into a huge deal, while the sibling/ partner/ relatives who have been dealing with it day in, day out get a bit shunted to the side in the joy of the moment.

I’m sure if they do get to reunite then it will be wonderful for all concerned. But Harry came across as quite angry and petulant in his book and it takes two to heal a rift. I hope if he is coming then it isn’t to make further demands on his father and brother in such a difficult time (like my cousin does every time something goes wrong).

Bladder cancer is often spotted during enlarged protate treatment because the tests they run for the latter will also reveal the former. Also, the early symptoms of bladder cancer are similar to the symptoms for emlarged prostate so they will often run the test.

In the same way as if you go in for fibroid removal/endometriosis they will test the tissue for a range of gynaecological cancers.

You would be surprised how frequently cancer is detected during treatment for something else due to symptom similarity and also tests for one thing showing up other problems too.

I’ve seen reports today that his car has been seen at LAX and that he is in his way. So someone is telling the press what he is doing 🤷‍♀️See here

But when you’re thrown from a young age onto the front pages of newspapers due to no other reason than your genetic heritage, a family is being set up to have huge issues from the get go. A normal and relatively stressfree childhood as part of a normal loving family is one of the most enjoyable parts of the human experience (for those fortunate enough to experience it) but it is something that is denied to all future heirs to the British throne. Immoral in my opinion.

I am still not used to King Charles but may the best thing is to pass the title to the youngest generation

That's not how royal succession works in the UK at least. You don't get to skip a generation or two just because you fancy having a young monarch as opposed to an elderly one.

Ratsoffasinkingsauage
But Harry came across as quite angry and petulant in his book and it takes two to heal a rift. I hope if he is coming then it isn’t to make further demands on his father and brother in such a difficult time (like my cousin does every time something goes wrong).

Yes. While I understand that Harry will be concerned about his father, I did think an immediate visit (after all that's gone on) is a bit dramatic. I would have thought a phone call and for him to ask when would be a good time for a visit would have been more appropriate?? Given the history, a visit from H is bound to be stressful for Charles and others, so good wishes and a request to visit soon would have been more sensitive, I think. It's not as if Charles is on his deathbed (I hope).

I suspect things are not going well in Montecito in a number of ways and Harry has seized this opportunity to try and re-connect - and that's a good thing as long as it's done with sensitivity and putting Charles first, rather than Harry's own wish to see him immediately.

@I MrsDanversGlidesAgain
I am not an expert but that is what happened in Spain.

I am surprised they only found something when doing the prostate procedure. From my own experience, as soon as cancer is suspected then you get a scan with contrast which basically scans the entire body - and any potentially cancerous regions will show up in the contrast. On the NHS you typically get this can once they have detected or strongly suspect a primary cancer.

As they had initially stated that the prostate issue was benign, I had assumed they had done a scan like this? Someone with Charle's resources/status - you would have thought they would have done these types of scans at the get go?

Unless there are types of cancer that sometimes just don't show up on these types of scans.

I am not a doctor or a specialist of any kind. I was just surprised that they were seemingly taken by surprise.

I would have thought a phone call and for him to ask when would be a good time for a visit would have been more appropriate??

CoffeeCantata you are entirely dismissing the very real possibility that Charles said I'd absolutely love you to come as soon as you can. That would be a completely normal response.

I suspect things are not going well in Montecito in a number of ways

Fgs!

Such odd armchair psychology!

I have to say that when DM was diagnosed as terminal (not saying HM's is terminal BTW) I asked DB if she wanted me to fly out and see her and she said yes, of course she did, ASAP. I think we have to separate Charles the king and Charles the DF where PH is concerned, and right now it's Charles the father PH is coming to see.

I wish the very best for the BRF and hope that W and H can at least be cordial for their father's sake.

It seems William tried to be a bit heavy-handed with encouraging Harry to wait to marry, and then the cultural differences between M and K caused further rifts. I am definitely on Megan's side when it comes to the pregnancy brain comment, as an American I would think nothing of saying that.

we all really do need to think about our ageism.

There are other threads to have a go at Harry, like the book one. This one isn't the right thread, in my opinion

I think the issue re Harry is this is from the King’s statement:

“His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual.
The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.“

In other words, he wants the country to know that while it’s concerning, he’s getting treatment, will continue working as much as he can, and hopes and expects to make a full recovery.

Whereas Team Harry releasing a statement through the backchannels announcing that he is heroically jumping on the next flight to London to be by his side makes it sound like KC is on his deathbed. It’s not the message KC was trying to convey about his own condition.

You shouldn't be surprised @TheWalrusStoletheShow .

The way they screen for prostate issues is first of all a blood test (PSA) then an ultrasound probe if the PSA is high (and they can tell a lot from that.)

Then if it's suspicious they will take a biopsy. If the biopsy is clear, then they won't go ahead doing MRIs etc. Obviously with KC, the biopsy was clear.

What they have said is that when he was having his surgery, something else was found(by chance (perhaps in the bowel or bladder area?) even though his prostate was benign. There are many ways of doing the op he had and they can use cameras, ultrasound and robotic surgery.

OR it could have been some markers in his blood or urine that alerted them to something else.

I'm of an age when I know men who have benign prostate issues, some have had all of these tests and some, which is how I know the process, and some sadly, have got cancer.

Yes. He is a few months younger than my mum who has bags of energy and I’ve no doubt could easily run the country. Not all 75 year olds are the same, but Charles is not an “old” 75.

He looks at least ten years older than he is. He hasn’t looked well for a long time.

Good luck challenging it on this site, MNHQ doesn't want to know. There's a comment on a thread about retirement age possibly going up to 71 according to 'experts' and one poster reckons we'll all be dying at that age. Told her I hope not because that only gives me seventeen months 😆

To a lot of people on MN anything over 55 makes you a decrepit coffin dodger who should be in a care home.

He's 39 now so must've missed that boat?

@LillythePinky that it explains it thank you!

For Harry to be king would need a family bloodbath worthy of the Medici and Borgias. I can't see it, somehow.

Who wouldn't with all the stress he' s had!

Both parents dying within 18 months of each other, being King, the Coronation itself, and his younger son spilling the beans about very personal matters and being estranged.

And he's always been very 'outdoorsy' presumably without using SPF on his skin.
None of his siblings has aged well and all look much older than they are.

:)

They tend to avoid whole body scans unless a primary cancer is found.

Sadly, a friend of ours have just been through all of this and his isn't benign.