A cancer charity has seen a ‘King Charles effect’ with a surge in visits to its website.
Macmillan Cancer Support said Charles’s openness about his cancer diagnosis meant its information and support pages saw 48,304 hits on Monday, when the news broke.
This represents a 42 per cent increase on the same day last year and is the highest daily figure since at least March 2020.
Buckingham Palace revealed King Charles had been diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer after it was found during treatment for his enlarged prostate.
The 75-year-old doesn’t have prostate cancer — the most common type among elderly men.
Macmillan Cancer Support said Charles’s openness about his cancer diagnosis meant its information and support pages saw 48,304 hits on Monday, when the news broke. Pictured, King Charles at a Clarence House reception to mark the 100th anniversary of MacMillan Cancer Support in 2011
Buckingham Palace revealed King Charles had been diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer after it was found during treatment for his enlarged prostate. The 75-year-old doesn’t have prostate cancer — the most common type among elderly men. Pictured: Charles was last seen waving to well-wishers as he attended a service with his wife Queen Camilla at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, on Sunday
Charles has been patron of Macmillan for more than 20 years, having taken up the role in 1997.
The charity’s chief executive, Gemma Peters, said: ‘Our thoughts remain with His Majesty The King and his family during what must be a very difficult time.
‘We hope that, by sharing his diagnosis so publicly and at such an early stage, the King will encourage others to come forward and speak to their GP if they are worried about any signs or symptoms.
‘At Macmillan, we hear day in, day out about the huge impact a cancer diagnosis can have on all areas of a person’s life, their work, as well as their friends and family.
‘Just as the King wants to continue to carry out his state duties, we understand that many people either want to or have to continue to work during their treatment.
‘Macmillan can support you with this and any other concerns you may have.
‘We are here in person, online and via our free, confidential support line, where you can talk to specially trained nurses who can provide practical tips and advice, support with issues around money and work, as well as a listening ear to anyone who may need it.’
The first sign that anything was amiss with King Charles’ health came on January 17 when Buckingham Palace made a surprise announcement that the King had ‘sought treatment’ for an enlarged prostate.
He chose to go public about his prostate treatment, with the aim of encouraging more men to get prostate checks, the palace said at the time.
Yesterday, palace officials also revealed he chose to share his cancer diagnosis in the hope it would ‘assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer’.
Last month Sarah Ferguson (pictured in December) revealed she had been diagnosed with malignant melanoma. The Duchess of York , 64, is said to be in ‘good spirits’ despite the ‘distressing’ news which marks her second cancer diagnosis in six months after she was treated for breast cancer last year
No further details on Charles’ condition have been shared, other than he remains ‘wholly positive’ and is looking forward to returning to full public duties.
Family and friends were said to be amazed by the King’s determination to carry on with ‘business as usual’.
Last month, NHS England saw a massive surge in people looking for information on melanoma, the fifth most common type of cancer, after Sarah, Duchess of York, was diagnosed with the disease.
The Duchess of York, 64, is said to be in ‘good spirits’ despite the ‘distressing’ news, which marked her second cancer diagnosis in six months after she was treated for breast cancer last year.
There was one visit every 13 seconds to the NHS website for information on melanoma in the two days following the announcement.
Figures suggest around one in two people will develop some form of cancer during their lifetime.
According to Cancer Research UK, a third of all cases in the UK are preventable.
Last year bowel cancer overtook lung to become the third most common type of the disease, striking 41,000 patients in 2021 in England.
Only breast (almost 50,000) and prostate (43,000) sickened more.