Shortly after succeeding the late Queen Elizabeth for the throne, King Charles III, aged 75, received a concerning diagnosis of cancer.
"During The King’s recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted," a Buckingham Palace statement released on Monday revealed. "Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer."
While Buckingham Palace did not specify the type or stage of the cancer diagnosed, there is a high expectation that King Charles III is battling prostate cancer.
In the UK, prostate cancer affects over 52,000 men annually, making it the most common cancer among males.
Survival statistics for prostate cancer at various stages were provided by Cancer Research UK, with the reminder that "survival depends on many factors."
The research emphasizes, "Survival for prostate cancer is generally good, particularly if diagnosed early."
What are King Charles' Survival Chances from Prostate Cancer?
According to the Office for National Statistics, nearly all patients with Stage 1 prostate cancer continue to live for at least five years after diagnosis — a prognosis that can be hopeful for King Charles.
Stage 1 cancer, as described by the NHS, signifies a "small" cancer that has not yet spread to other areas.
Contrastingly, Stage 2 cancer, according to NHS definitions, represents a "larger" cancer that has developed but remains localized.
ONS data suggests that almost all patients with Stage 2 prostate cancer continue to live for five years or more post-diagnosis.
However, the survival rate drops to about 95% for Stage 3 prostate cancer, where the cancer may have spread to surrounding tissues and/or lymph nodes, as explained by the NHS.
Stage 4 cancer, often termed "secondary" or "metastatic" cancer, is the most severe form, having spread to at least one additional organ from its original site, according to NHS classifications.
Survival rates for men diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer indicate that fifty percent survive for five years or more after diagnosis, as per Cancer Research UK.
"Your outlook depends on the stage of the cancer when diagnosed. This includes its size, whether it has spread, and the type and grade of the cancer," Cancer Research UK highlights, underlining the complexity of survival prognosis.
