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From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.<\/p>\n
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.<\/p>\n
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.<\/p>\n
Your support makes all the difference.<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nRead more<\/span><\/svg><\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nKing Charles has issued a heartfelt plea for people across the UK to attend cancer screenings, drawing on his “overwhelming” personal health journey and highlighting millions of missed opportunities for early diagnoses. <\/p>\n
In a recorded message supporting Stand Up to Cancer, the monarch announced his own treatment would be scaled back in the new year, describing it as a “personal blessing”.<\/p>\n
Reflecting on his experiences, the King revealed he was “deeply troubled” to learn that at least nine million individuals in the UK are not up to date with the cancer screenings available to them.<\/p>\n
Here is the message in full:<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n This is a season when our thoughts turn to celebrations with our friends and families.<\/p>\n
In the midst of this festive period, I just wanted to ask you to join me today in finding a special place in your hearts and your minds and prayers for the hundreds of thousands of people across our United Kingdom who receive a cancer diagnosis each year \u2013 and for the millions more who love and care for them.<\/p>\n
I know from my own experience that a cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming.<\/p>\n
Yet I also know that early detection is the key that can transform treatment journeys, giving invaluable time to medical teams \u2013 and, to their patients, the precious gift of hope.<\/p>\n
These are gifts we can all help deliver.<\/p>\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n
open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>The King reads cards and messages sent by wellwishers following his cancer diagnosis, in February 2024 (Jonathan Brady\/PA)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nThroughout my own cancer journey, I have been profoundly moved by what I can only call the \u201ccommunity of care\u201d that surrounds every cancer patient \u2013 the specialists, the nurses, researchers and volunteers who work tirelessly to save and improve lives.<\/p>\n
But I have also learned something that troubles me deeply \u2013 at least nine million people in our country are not up to date with the cancer screenings available to them.<\/p>\n
That is at least nine million opportunities for early diagnosis being missed.<\/p>\n
The statistics speak with stark clarity. To take just one example: When bowel cancer is caught at the earliest stage, around nine in 10 people survive for at least five years. When diagnosed late, that falls to just one in 10.<\/p>\n
Early diagnosis quite simply saves lives.<\/p>\n
Now, I have heard this message repeatedly during my visits to cancer centres across the country. I know, too, what a difference it has made in my own case, enabling me to continue leading a full and active life, even while undergoing treatment.<\/p>\n
Indeed, today I am able to share with you the good news that thanks to early diagnosis, effective intervention and adherence to \u201cdoctors\u2019 orders\u201d, my own schedule of cancer treatment can be reduced in the new year.<\/p>\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n
open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>In the King\u2019s recorded a video message, he urged people to attend the cancer screenings available to them (Tommy Forbes\/Bango Studios\/PA)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nThis milestone is both a personal blessing and a testimony to the remarkable advances that have been made in cancer care in recent years; testimony that I hope may give encouragement to the 50 per cent of us who will be diagnosed with the illness at some point in our lives.<\/p>\n
Yet too often, I am told, people avoid screening because they imagine it may be frightening, embarrassing or uncomfortable.<\/p>\n
If and when they do finally take up their invitation, they are glad they took part. A few moments of minor inconvenience are a small price to pay for the reassurance that comes for most people when they are either told either they don\u2019t need further tests, or, for some, are given the chance to enable early detection, with the life-saving intervention that can follow.<\/p>\n
This is why I am so encouraged to learn about the new national Screening Checker that is available online. This simple tool allows you to check whether you are eligible for breast, bowel or cervical cancer screening. It demystifies the process, answers your questions, and guides you towards taking that crucial step.<\/p>\n
As I have observed before, the darkest moments of illness can be illuminated by the greatest compassion. But compassion must be paired with action.<\/p>\n
This December, as we gather to reflect on the year past, I pray that we can each pledge, as part of our resolutions for the year ahead, to play our part in helping to catch cancer early.<\/p>\n
Your life \u2013 or the life of someone you love \u2013 may depend upon it.<\/p>\n
Therefore, this brings my most heartfelt thanks to the doctors, nurses, researchers and charity workers involved in diagnosis and treatment programmes, together with my particular good wishes to those for whom they care so selflessly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more King Charles has issued a heartfelt plea for people across the UK to attend cancer screenings, drawing on his “overwhelming” personal health journey and highlighting millions of missed opportunities for early diagnoses. In a recorded message supporting Stand Up to Cancer, the monarch announced his own treatment would be scaled back in the new year, describing it as a “personal blessing”. Reflecting on his experiences, the King revealed he was “deeply troubled” to learn that at least nine million individuals in the UK are not up to date with the cancer screenings available to them. Here is the message in full: This is a season when our thoughts turn to celebrations with our friends and families. In the midst of this festive period, I just wanted to ask you to join me today in finding a special place in your hearts and your minds and prayers for the hundreds of thousands of people across our United Kingdom who receive a cancer diagnosis each year \u2013 and for the millions more who love …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9641,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9640"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9640"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9640\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/9641"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9640"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9640"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9640"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}