Return to work will be ‘therapeutic’ for King Charles and getting back to ‘normality’ could speed up his cancer recovery, top expert Professor Karol Sikora claims
King Charles’s return to work has been hailed as a ‘really encouraging’ step in his cancer journey.
Buckingham Palace today announced the King would be returning to public-facing duties after a three-month absence.
Charles, 75, is not yet clear of the disease and is still undergoing treatment.
However, his medical team are understood to be ‘pleased with the progress made so far’ and ‘remain positive’ about his recovery.
Professor Karol Sikora, a world-renowned oncologist with over 40 years’ experience, told MailOnline the news was incredibly positive for His Majesty.
King Charles, 75, is not yet clear of the disease and is still undergoing treatment but experts have hailed his return to work as very positive step that will aid his recovery. Here he is pictured with Queen Camilla
‘Everyone goes through the shock when they are diagnosed and often they take time off work,’ he said.
‘Going back to work is therapeutic in a sense.’
He said that a return to ‘normality’, be that work, family duties, or education had a significant psychological impact and could speed up recovery both from the disease and from the treatment they have undergone.
‘It’s really encouraging that he’s doing that, and that’s what we encourage other people to do,’ he said.
Professor Sikora said cancer patients, understandably, face huge uncertainties in wake of a diagnosis about treatment options, whether it will be a success and the risk that the cancer could return.
‘Some people go to pieces and never get back to normal,’ he said.
‘It is therapeutic just to get out and about, and not to be sitting and moping about the cancer.’
Buckingham Palace has also passed on the King and Queen’s grateful thanks for all the good wishes they have received in the weeks since his diagnosis.
One of Charles’s first official events will be particularly poignant visit to cancer treatment centre to meet both medical specialists and patients.
In a statement Buckingham Palace said: ‘His Majesty The King will shortly return to public-facing duties after a period of treatment and recuperation following his recent cancer diagnosis.
‘To help mark this milestone, The King and Queen will make a joint visit to a cancer treatment centre next Tuesday, where they will meet medical specialists and patients.
‘This visit will be the first in a number of external engagements His Majesty will undertake in the weeks ahead.’
The King’s health current health issues first became public in January when it was announced that he was going into hospital for surgery on an enlarged prostate.
He remained in The London Clinic for three days.
Then in February it was revealed tests had discovered presence of cancer elsewhere in his body.
Buckingham Palace have not revealed the exact type of cancer the King has cancer or details of the treatment he received. However, it is understood not to be prostate cancer.
Officials have stressed that His Majesty’s treatment for cancer is still ongoing, saying: ‘His Majesty’s treatment programme will continue, but doctors are sufficiently pleased with the progress made so far that The King is now able to resume a number of public facing duties.
‘Forthcoming engagements will be adapted where necessary to minimise any risks to His Majesty’s continued recovery.’
A spokesperson said they were unable to specify how long the recovery is expected to take: ‘It is too early to say, but His Majesty’s medical team are very encouraged by the progress made so far and remain positive about The King’s continued recovery.’
Professor Karol Sikora, a world-renowned oncologist with over 40 years’ experience, told MailOnline the news was incredibly positive for His Majesty
They added that ‘any public-facing engagements will be announced nearer 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 unclear yet whether if the King will be able to travel to Normandy in June for the major 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 if his health allows.
Charles isn’t the only royal facing a cancer battle.
The Princess of Wales, 42, shared her own shocking cancer diagnosis and was undergoing preventative chemotherapy last month.
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