Editorial Staff
26/01/24 07:46

Editorial Staff
26/01/24 07:46

King Charles III set to undergo surgery for enlarged prostate

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by Mick the Ram

 

It was announced by Buckingham Palace that King Charles III is due to enter hospital this week for a “corrective procedure” to be carried out for an enlarged prostate.

Although the Palace have not divulged at this stage precisely when, or indeed where, the treatment will take place, it is expected to occur in the next 24-48 hours.

It is thought the most likely location will be at the London Clinic – the same facility that the Princess of Wales entered last week for her abdominal surgery and where she continues to convalesce.

In a statement released from a spokesperson, the King’s condition was described as “benign” before confirming that his public engagements would be postponed  for a “short period of recuperation.”

This is the third royal health scare to make the news over the past week, coming immediately after Kate’s much publicised operation and the shock announcement at the weekend that Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, has been diagnosed with malignant melanoma, a form of skin cancer.

Symptoms led to check-up

King Charles went for a check-up after “experiencing symptoms” then following his diagnosis, he was advised to rest, leading up to the forthcoming procedure. His health for a man of 75 is remarkably good, with very little reported issues.

Not necessarily serious

Benign prostate enlargement (BPE) is the medical term to describe an enlarged prostate, a condition that can affect how an individual urinates. It is common in men over 50-year-old and is not normally regarded as a serious threat to long-term health.

That said, many men do associate issues with the prostate, with possible cancer implications.

King happy to share

The King was said to have been insistant that the basic details of his condition were shared with the nation, with the aim to encourage other men who could be experiencing similar symptoms, to get themselves checked out.

Consultant’s words of wisdom

A leading clinical director for NHS England remarked that he would expect around 70-80% over the age of 75 to have an enlarged prostate. Ian Eardley, who is a consultant urological surgeon in Leeds, said: “Simply by taking medication and making some basic lifestyle changes, will for most, mean there is no need for an operation.”

This could suggest a slightly more troublesome condition, or it might just be precautionary.

Queen urges “workaholic” to slow down

The monarch flew back from Balmoral in Scotland last weekend to rest at his 20,000 acre Sandringham Estate, ahead of his surgery.

Queen Camilla speaking at an event she was attending in Scotland, confirmed that King Charles was “fine”, although the 76-year-old royal did add that she had warned her “workaholic” husband to “slow down”.

Sense of Duty

Prince William has commented in the past how his father “never stops” and many observers have spoken of His Majesty’s innate sense of duty and desire to work tirelessly to improve the lot of people much less fortunate than himself.

In the past 12 months Charles has attended in excess of 500 engagements, including 94 abroad, which is bound to have taken a lot out of him.

Joining a long line

If as expected, the procedure takes place at the London Clinic, the King will become another in a long list of famous people to be patients at the hospital.

The late Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip, Princess Margaret, the former US president John F Kennedy, the former prime minister and current foreign secretary, Lord David Cameron, and actress Elizabeth Taylor, have all been cared for at the facility.

The Princess of Wales has completed a full week recovering at the private London Clinic and is expected to remain there for possibly another 7 days.

Shocked Duchess has family support

For the Duchess of York the discovery of the malignant melanoma follows the removal of a cancerous mole during her previous treatment for breast cancer, which required a single mastectomy to be undertaken.

She is understandably shaken by the news, but the 64-year-old clearly has the support of other Royals, having been seen with the rest of the family for the first time in 30 years, at a Christmas church service. 

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