King Charles’ return to work has been hailed as a “really encouraging” step in his cancer journey.
Buckingham Palace announced today that the King would return to public duties after a three-month absence.
Charles, 75, is not yet free of the disease and is still undergoing treatment.
However, his medical team is “pleased with the progress made so far” and “remains positive” about his recovery.
Professor Karol Sikora, a world-renowned oncologist with more than 40 years’ experience, told MailOnline the news was incredibly positive for Her Majesty.
King Charles, 75, is not yet free of the disease and is still undergoing treatment, but experts have hailed his return to work as a very positive step that will aid his recovery. Here he is pictured with Queen Camilla.
“Everyone goes through shock when they are diagnosed and often misses work,” he said.
“Going back to work is therapeutic in a sense.”
The return to “normality”, whether at work, in family tasks or in education, he stated, has an important psychological impact and could accelerate recovery from both the disease and the treatment suffered.
“It’s really encouraging that you’re doing that, and that’s what we encourage other people to do,” he said.
Professor Sikora He said cancer patients understandably face enormous uncertainties after a diagnosis about treatment options, whether it will be a success and the risk of the cancer returning.
“Some people fall apart and never get back to normal,” he said.
“It’s therapeutic to just get out and not sit around and be depressed about the cancer.”
Buckingham Palace has also passed on the King and Queen’s thanks for all the well wishes they have received in the weeks following their diagnosis.
One of Charles’ first official events will be a particularly moving visit to the cancer treatment center to meet with both medical specialists and patients.
In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: “His Majesty the King will soon return to his public duties following a period of treatment and recovery following his recent cancer diagnosis.”
‘To help mark this milestone, the King and Queen will make a joint visit to a cancer treatment center next Tuesday, where they will meet specialist doctors and patients.
“This visit will be the first in a series of external engagements that Her Majesty will undertake in the coming weeks.”
The King’s current health problems first became public in January when it was announced that he would be going to hospital to undergo surgery for an enlarged prostate.
He remained in the London Clinic for three days.
Then, in February, it was revealed that tests had uncovered the presence of cancer in other parts of his body.
Buckingham Palace has not revealed the exact type of cancer the King suffers from or details of the treatment he received. However, it is understood that it is not prostate cancer.
Officials have emphasized that Her Majesty’s cancer treatment is still ongoing, saying: “Her Majesty’s treatment program will continue, but doctors are satisfied enough with the progress made so far that the King can now resume a series of duties facing the public”.
“Upcoming engagements will be adapted where necessary to minimize any risk to Her Majesty’s continued recovery.”
A spokesperson said they could not specify how long the recovery is expected to last: “It is too early to say, but Her Majesty’s medical team is very encouraged by the progress made so far and remains positive about the King’s continued recovery.” .
Professor Karol Sikora, a world-renowned oncologist with more than 40 years’ experience, told MailOnline the news was incredibly positive for Her Majesty.
They added that “any public engagement will be announced closer to the time in the usual way and will remain subject to doctors’ advice” and stressed that it would not be a “full summer programme”.
It is not yet clear whether the King will be able to travel to Normandy in June for the main D-Day anniversary commemorations or to Australia, New Zealand and Samoa as planned in October, but it is understood that the King is keen to do so if his health permits. It allows.
Charles is not the only royal facing a battle with cancer.
The Princess of Wales, 42, shared her shocking cancer diagnosis and was receiving preventive chemotherapy last month.