The Importance of Screening For Cancer
- King Charles III, 76, has been praised by his fans for “saving lives” after announcing his cancer diagnosis and choosing not to disclose the type of cancer he’s battling.
- The 76-year-old monarch is still undergoing treatment for cancer after doctors discovered it while treating his enlarged prostate last February, something that occurs in most men as they age. His health is reportedly “moving in a positive direction.”
- Buckingham Palace told multiple news outlets King Charles does not have prostate cancer. The exact type and stage of cancer and Charles’ ongoing treatment have not been disclosed at this time. But his cancer journey is certainly a reminder for others to followup with their doctors and schedule cancer screenings.
- Catching cancer early can save your life, reduce your treatment plan – or help avoid treatment or complicated surgery altogether, depending on the type of cancer and how early you catch it.
- Contact your doctor and ask about cancer screenings — and be sure to know and share your family history, as it can up your risk for various types of cancer.
The King’s cancer treatment is “moving in a positive direction,” as per NBC News who spoke with a Buckingham Palace insider this week, as his condition is being “managed” and his treatment plane “will continue into the next year.”
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The supporter continued, “You are saving lives, and your mother Queen Elizabeth II and your whole family must be very proud of you. I know I am and everyone I’ve talked to in my own country agrees whole heartedly.
“How you and the family are handling this is yet another graceful step in being open to the residents of United Kingdom. We pray for your health, Queen Camilla, and your family.”
Another fan commented, “Therefore encourage one another and build up each other, as indeed you are doing. 1 Thessalonians 5:11.”
Aside from those who have commended the King for inspiring others to get checked, a third fan offered some uplifting words, “This is not an easy process, but I hope King Charles stays strong and survives this tribulation.
“He comes from a long line of strong individuals and I don’t see him giving in anytime soon! I hope his family stays close and loving through this tough time.”
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The sweet words of support were in response to a Feb. 5, 2024 statement from Buckingham Palace, reading, “During The King’s recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer.
“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.”
It continued, “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.
“His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.”
It’s great to see King Charles making an impact on society and encouraging others to get checked for cancer, something which Men’s Health previously reported on, noting that research by Pall Mall Medical found more than 25 percent of men have admitted they are more worried about cancer since his diagnosis.
Expert Resources On Cancer Screenings
- Could A Urine Test Be The Future of Prostate Cancer Screening? Leading Experts Weigh In
- The PSA Blood Test and a Rectal Exam are Vital for Prostate Cancer Screening
- Colon Cancer Screening Options And Genetics: Myth Busting With Dr. Heather Yeo
- Colon Cancer Screening is Extremely Important; Guidelines Now Say to Start at Age 45 if There Is No Family History
- Lung Cancer Screening Has Come a Long Way, But Only 10% of Eligible People Take Advantage
- How Tough Guy ‘Shaft’ Actor Richard Roundtree, 80, Beat Male Breast Cancer: What Has Changed Since His Diagnosis 30 Years Ago?
Additionally, Macmillan Cancer Support reported they had 48,000 hits on the King’s cancer announcement day in February. There was also an increase in Google searches increased for “prostate cancer” and “prostate cancer symptoms” during that time, and more men being diagnosed in the UK than woman as per Cancer Research U.K., Men’s Health reports.
In the monarch’s case, it’s unclear what type of treatment he is undergoing as the exact type and severity of the disease he’s battling hasn’t been revealed by Buckingham Palace. However, it’s been reported that he’s been receiving treatment on a weekly basis since his diagnosis in February.
How Can Cancer Survivors Advocate For Themselves?
You know your body better than anybody else. That’s why it’s so important to advocate for yourself in a healthcare setting. This applies to anyone experiencing new symptoms and looking for an answer, as well as people who have already been diagnosed with serious diseases like cancer. Doctors are there to guide you through a treatment plan, but your wants and needs should be part of that plan as well. Oncologists and survivors alike stress the importance of advocating for yourself.
This could mean asking additional questions about symptoms or a diagnosis, getting a second opinion, or doing your own research so you can come to doctor appointments prepared to voice your concerns.
Dr. Zuri Murrell, a colorectal cancer surgeon and Director of the Cedars-Sinai Colorectal Cancer Center, previously told SurvivorNet that patients even before a serious diagnosis should head to every doctor’s appointment prepared to take charge.
Have a plan for doctor appointments
“The truth is, you have to be in tune with your body and you have to realize that you are not a statistic,” Dr. Murrell said. “You are not necessarily going to fit into [guidelines].” So, if you have symptoms of colon cancer such as a change in bowel habits or blood in the stool that means you should not avoid a colonoscopy just because you are not the recommended screening age of 50 years old yet, he said.
“…You should lead each doctor’s appointment with a plan,” he added. “So if I, a 40-year-old, come into a doctor’s office and say, ‘I’m having rectal bleeding. This is new for me.’ The doctor says, ‘You know what? It’s probably hemorrhoids.’ First of all, I think, did they examine me? And a lot of times, especially if you’re a male, you’re actually happy that they didn’t examine you, but that’s not necessarily the right thing to do.”
The takeaway here is to not let doctors brush off symptoms you may be experiencing. Dr. Murrell recommends asking for a plan. For example, if you doctor thinks symptoms are due to hemorrhoids, what’s the plan if they persist after a month of medication? It’s all a part of being proactive. Another important part in many cases is getting a second opinion.
Seek out a second opinion
Dealing with hospitals, meeting new doctors, learning about a bunch of treatment options you may have never heard of it can all be an intimidating process. But you should feel completely comfortable seeking out a second opinion after a cancer diagnosis. This doesn’t mean you don’t trust your doctor, it’s simply a part of advocating for yourself.
“I support second opinions. I actually think it’s really important,” Dr. Heather Yeo, a colorectal cancer surgeon at Weill Cornell Medicine, told SurvivorNet in a previous conversation on the matter.
Getting a second opinion is extremely common and encouraged after a cancer diagnosis, colorectal cancer surgeon Dr. Heather Yeo explains.
“I mean, if you think about in life, how do you choose someone to cut your hair? You get an opinion, right? You usually don’t just go in and sit down with the first person you see on the street and say cut my hair. You ask around and you try and if a patient has questions, I support second opinions 100%.”
Avoiding Provider Bias – Is Your Doctor Understanding You?
While your doctor has undergone years of training and practice, they are still human, and may come with their own set of biases that can impact how they treat patients.
To combat these biases and really get the most out of your interactions with your doctor, you should provide her or him with plenty of information about your life and ask plenty of questions when things aren’t clear. To better understand how you should approach conversations with your doctor, we previously spoke with Dr. Dana Chase, gynecologic oncologist at Arizona Oncology.
According to Dr. Chase, physicians, like many of us, can be a bit biased when seeing patients. She made it clear that these biases are rarely sinister, but rather unconscious and more subtle.
She explained, “We have certain beliefs that we don’t know about. We might look, for example, at an older woman, and just by the way she looks we might make certain assumptions, and we might not even know that we’re making these assumptions.”
Let’s Talk About Provider Bias
Clearing up misconceptions is important, but so is understanding what your doctor is telling you, Dr. Chase noted. Overall, she advises women to speak up and ask questions when they don’t understand something.
“It’s never a bad thing to ask for something to be repeated, or to ask the doctors to explain it in different terms.”
So next time you go to your physician, speak up if you need clarity, so your doctor can understand you and you can understand them.
Dealing With Shame
“Shame is an important topic when it comes to cancer,” Tripp Hornick, a testicular cancer survivor who was diagnosed when he was just a 21-year-old college student, previously told SurvivorNet.
“I think we as men have an awful lot that we can learn from what women have to go through with breast cancer.”
Tripp emerged from his experience with an extremely positive message: Do not be a victim. “What you accomplish is what cures any shame,” Tripp says, and there’s no reason you can’t go on to live a happy and fulfilling life.
Coping With The Shame That May Come With Cancer
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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