More than two decades ago, King Charles III, who was Prince of Wales at the time, gave a speech in which he said he was told being diagnosed with a cancer was like "suddenly finding yourself in an unknown land".
The monarch, a patron of the Macmillan Cancer Support charity since 1997, has now found himself in that position after being diagnosed with the disease, which will ultimately affect one in two people during their lifetime.
Someone is diagnosed with cancer every two minutes in the UK.
At the age of 75, King Charles is in the most at-risk group.
The older a person is, the more likely they are to develop cancer: a third of all cases in the UK involve people aged 75 and over, Cancer Research UK says.
The risk increases because the cells in our bodies deteriorate over time and as damage builds, cancer can develop.
In his speech in 1999, to support a Macmillan campaign named A Voice for Life, he spoke of the need to "rewrite the rhetoric of cancer".
"People tell me that being diagnosed with a cancer is like suddenly finding yourself in an unknown land, with no map, no compass, no sign posts and no knowledge of the language," he said.
"The treatments are complex. Many different health professionals are involved – people can see as many as 50 different doctors. They need help to find their way in this no doubt alien and intimidating world."
Queen Elizabeth II, the king's mother, was reportedly suffering from multiple myeloma at the time of her death in 2022.
Her father, King George VI, who suffered from lung cancer, died 72 years ago to the day on February 6, 1952, due to a blood clot. That caused a coronary thrombosis, the blockage of arteries that carry blood to the heart, leading to a sudden collapse and fatal heart failure.
His death came as a shock to the public and the royal family – even the king had not been informed of the full extent of his illness.
His case is in stark contrast to that of the current monarch, who wanted to make his diagnosis public because of his long-running support for cancer charities.
A day before his illness was announced, the Royal Family shared a post on X to mark World Cancer Day, which said: "Today is #WorldCancerDay – a global initiative aiming to raise awareness about cancer. Earlier this week, Her Majesty The Queen opened @MaggiesCentres Royal Free, a new cancer support centre at Royal Free Hospital."
How King Charles was diagnosed
The king's condition was discovered while he was receiving treatment for a benign prostate enlargement last week, uncovering a “separate issue of concern”.
The nature of King Charles's cancer has not been disclosed, although Buckingham Palace said it was not of the prostate.
Men over 75 are prone to several types of cancer.
Britain's position in the league table
According to Cancer Research UK, the five-year relative survival for cancer in men is below the European average in England, Wales and Scotland.
A report last week commissioned by the group said progress in UK cancer survival is at its slowest in 50 years.
In a benchmarking exercise involving several provinces of Canada and parts of the UK, Ireland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Australia and New Zealand between 1995 and 2007, survival rates were higher in Australia, Canada and Sweden, intermediate in Norway and lower in Denmark and the UK.
Britain was ninth in terms of five-year survival rates from colon cancer; eighth for rectum cancer; seventh for lung, pancreatic and stomach, and sixth for ovarian.
Which types are most common?
In the UK, prostate cancer is the most common in men aged 75 and over, with lung cancer second, followed by bowel and bladder cancer.
Prostate, which the palace has confirmed is not affecting the king, accounts for a quarter of cancer diagnosed in men over 75.
About 16 per cent of cancers discovered in older men affect the lung. Smoking is the leading cause but the king does not smoke.
Bowel cancer accounts for 14 per cent of the disease found in men aged 75. Bleeding from the rectum and a change in bowel habits are among the most common symptoms.
Bladder cancer makes up about 6 per cent of cancer discovered in older men. Symptoms are similar to that of prostate cancer, with a frequent need to urinate, which may be painful. The urine can also contain blood.
King Charles III through the years – in pictures
Survival rates
Early-stage cancer (stage one) refers to a period when the disease has not begun to spread to other organs and treatment has more chance of success.
For example, more than nine in 10 people with bowel cancer survive the disease for five years or longer if diagnosed at stage one.
This falls to one in 10 if bowel cancer is diagnosed at the most advanced stage and has spread.
With bladder cancer, about 80 per cent of people survive for five years or more if diagnosed at an early stage.
This drops to 10 per cent at an advanced stage.
Age is another factor affecting survival rates. On average, 60 per cent of men survive five years or more after being diagnosed with bladder or bowel cancer in their seventies.
What is the king's prognosis?
The monarch’s cancer was caught early, according to UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, which should mean it is easier to treat.
Buckingham Palace said King Charles had now begun as “schedule of regular treatment” for the condition. His treatment could include chemotherapy, radiotherapy or medicine.
The palace said he was “wholly positive about his treatment” and “looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible”.
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
The five pillars of Islam
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Lexus LX700h specs
Engine: 3.4-litre twin-turbo V6 plus supplementary electric motor
Power: 464hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 790Nm from 2,000-3,600rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 11.7L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh590,000
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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South Korea
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VERSTAPPEN'S FIRSTS
Youngest F1 driver (17 years 3 days Japan 2014)
Youngest driver to start an F1 race (17 years 166 days – Australia 2015)
Youngest F1 driver to score points (17 years 180 days - Malaysia 2015)
Youngest driver to lead an F1 race (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest driver to set an F1 fastest lap (19 years 44 days – Brazil 2016)
Youngest on F1 podium finish (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest F1 winner (18 years 228 days – Spain 2016)
Youngest multiple F1 race winner (Mexico 2017/18)
Youngest F1 driver to win the same race (Mexico 2017/18)
The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE
Price, base / as tested Dh274,000 (estimate)
Engine 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder
Gearbox Nine-speed automatic
Power 245hp @ 4,200rpm
Torque 500Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.4L / 100km
Globalization and its Discontents Revisited
Joseph E. Stiglitz
W. W. Norton & Company
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
Types of policy
Term life insurance: this is the cheapest and most-popular form of life cover. You pay a regular monthly premium for a pre-agreed period, typically anything between five and 25 years, or possibly longer. If you die within that time, the policy will pay a cash lump sum, which is typically tax-free even outside the UAE. If you die after the policy ends, you do not get anything in return. There is no cash-in value at any time. Once you stop paying premiums, cover stops.
Whole-of-life insurance: as its name suggests, this type of life cover is designed to run for the rest of your life. You pay regular monthly premiums and in return, get a guaranteed cash lump sum whenever you die. As a result, premiums are typically much higher than one term life insurance, although they do not usually increase with age. In some cases, you have to keep up premiums for as long as you live, although there may be a cut-off period, say, at age 80 but it can go as high as 95. There are penalties if you don’t last the course and you may get a lot less than you paid in.
Critical illness cover: this pays a cash lump sum if you suffer from a serious illness such as cancer, heart disease or stroke. Some policies cover as many as 50 different illnesses, although cancer triggers by far the most claims. The payout is designed to cover major financial responsibilities such as a mortgage or children’s education fees if you fall ill and are unable to work. It is cost effective to combine it with life insurance, with the policy paying out once if you either die or suffer a serious illness.
Income protection: this pays a replacement income if you fall ill and are unable to continue working. On the best policies, this will continue either until you recover, or reach retirement age. Unlike critical illness cover, policies will typically pay out for stress and musculoskeletal problems such as back trouble.
SERIE A FIXTURES
Saturday (All UAE kick-off times)
Cagliari v AC Milan (6pm)
Lazio v Napoli (9pm)
Inter Milan v Atalanta (11.45pm)
Sunday
Udinese v Sassuolo (3.30pm)
Sampdoria v Brescia (6pm)
Fiorentina v SPAL (6pm)
Torino v Bologna (6pm)
Verona v Genoa (9pm)
Roma V Juventus (11.45pm)
Parma v Lecce (11.45pm)
SPECS
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What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence