Medical experts unveil major clues to the type of "incurable" cancer King Charles could have been diagnosed with

Sky News AU

15 hours ago

Since Buckingham Palace confirmed King Charles had cancer in 2024, medical professionals around the globe have tried to determine exactly which type of disease he has.
The palace said "diagnostic tests" found Charles' cancer during a "corrective" hospital procedure for a benign prostate enlargement, known as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), in a statement last February.
BPH is characterised by an overgrowth of prostate tissue that pushes against the urethra and the bladder, restricting the flow of urine.
Buckingham Palace has not disclosed what type of cancer the King has or what stage the disease is at while he continues to undergo treatment.
However, it's been confirmed he does not have prostate cancer despite the initial hospital procedure being for an enlarged prostate.
While the corrective procedure the King had is unknown, the most common one for BPH is Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP).
According to the Mayo Clinic, TURP involves a surgeon trimming away extra prostate tissue that is blocking the flow of urine.
A transurethral ultrasound ablation (TULSA) is another treatment option for BPH.
This innovative procedure is performed under MRI guidance, using targeted ultrasound waves to heat and destroy prostate tissue.
Since Both TURP and TULSA involve removing prostate tissues, Profound Medical, which develops the TULSA device, suggests Charles could have bladder or kidney cancer after doctors examined his removed tissue.
"The nature of King Charles's diagnosis is not uncommon and is referred to as an incidental diagnosis," Profound Medical said on its website.
"This can occur when treatment for conditions like BPH leads to the unexpected discovery of other illnesses.
"During procedures intended to relieve BPH symptoms, physicians might take the opportunity to examine removed tissue or conduct imaging tests that can reveal other conditions like bladder or kidney cancer or even unrelated cancers identified through routine imaging."
According to the Cleveland Clinic, examining tissue from the prostate can also detect urethral cancer.
The medical centre states people older than 60 who are males are more likely to get this cancer type.
Moreover, data by Cancer Research UK suggests King Charles could have lung cancer or bowel cancer.
The data states the most common cancers in UK males after prostate cancer (28 percent) are lung cancer (13 per cent) and bowel cancer (12 per cent) from 2017 through 2019.
It also states head and neck, bladder, oesophageal cancers, and leukaemia are among the UK's ten most common cancers in males.
The Cancer Council encourages men over the age of 50 to get tested for bowel cancer every two years.
The palace continues to say the monarch is doing well, but veteran royal insider Camilla Tonminey said Charles' diagnosis is ultimately incurable.
'The talk now is that he may die 'with' cancer, but not 'of' cancer following a rigorous treatment program,' Ms Tonminey recently told The Telegraph.
She said 'tentative' planning for Charles' 80th birthday celebrations in 2028 is going ahead with the expectation the King's cancer will continue to be managed.
For the second consecutive year, Charles will not ride by horseback and will instead opt to go by carriage at Trooping the Colour on Saturday, according to The Times.
The carriage was deemed a safer and more comfortable option at the King's official birthday parade last year after the King's procedure.