Monarch to Share Intimate Message on Cancer in Nationwide Programme

His Majesty has filmed a first-hand account regarding his journey with cancer, scheduled for transmission as part of this year's Stand Up To Cancer drive, organised by Cancer Research UK and a television broadcaster.

Official sources said the King would discuss his "healing process" as a person living with the disease, in a recorded address on Friday evening at 20:00 GMT.

The message, recorded at Clarence House recently, will highlight the critical nature of preventative health checks to ensure more people detect the illness at an treatable phase.

This represents a uncommon insight on the wellbeing of the Monarch, who has been receiving ongoing care since revealing his diagnosis in early last year. But it is thought doubtful the King will specify his type of cancer.

Awareness Central Purpose

The awareness campaign each year generates donations for medical research and patient care and encourages people to get check-ups to boost the odds of an timely detection.

The King's relative openness about his illness, and living with cancer, has been intended to promote education and to encourage more people to get tested - and this will be escalated with this unique personal contribution.

To date the King's primary strategy to his cancer has been to maintain his duties, upholding a full diary despite his ongoing course of therapy, and he appears not to have wanted to be overshadowed by his diagnosis.

The past twelve months has seen the King, 77, undertaking several foreign visits, such as visits to Italy and Canada, and hosting the largest volume of foreign dignitaries to the UK for decades, including the German president in recent days.

The Televised Special Show

The upcoming Stand Up to Cancer show on the network, hosted by celebrities such as Davina McCall, Adam Hills and Clare Balding, will urge people not to be afraid of getting health screenings.

All three have been affected by cancer - McCall disclosed recently she had undergone surgery for the disease, while Clare Balding was overcame a thyroid condition over a decade ago. Presenter Adam Hills has previously mentioned his parent, who had one form of cancer and then later leukaemia.

The show will reach out to the roughly 9m people in the UK who charities state are not current with national health programmes, with an website to let people check if they are qualified for examinations for breast, bowel and cervical cancer.

In an attempt to clarify health tests and show the benefit of early diagnosis there will be a direct feed from cancer clinics at two Cambridge hospitals in Cambridge.

"The goal is to remove the anxiety out of preventative tests and prove everyone that they are not isolated in this," stated one of the hosts.

Available Health Checks

At present in the UK, there are several key national health screening services - for specific cancers - available to certain age groups.

A new lung cancer screening programme is also being phased in for people at increased risk of being diagnosed with the illness, primarily aimed at people aged 55-74 years old, who have a smoking history or were former smokers.

Men may enquire about specific tests, but there is not a universal scheme in place.

Funding Research

The charity project, which has collected a significant sum for many years, is funding 73 research studies involving 13,000 patients.

The Monarch, in a statement for guests at a gathering for related organisations in the spring, had spoken of recognising the "intimidating and at times frightening reality" for patients and their loved ones.

But he said his experience of managing cancer had demonstrated that "the darkest moments of illness can be illuminated by the kindness of others," as he thanked those who cared for individuals with the illness.

Official sources has not disclosed the nature of cancer the King has, or the therapies he has been given. The King's cancer was detected subsequent to he had undergone a routine operation.