King Charles’ cancer diagnosis, which was identified recently during treatment for an enlarged prostate, continues to make news globally. The type of cancer has not been revealed, but it has been confirmed it is not prostate cancer.
So what can King Charles and the millions of others who are newly diagnosed with cancer each year expect? And how has cancer treatment changed to improve survival rates? Read more: The royals have historically been tight-lipped about their health – but that never stopped the gossip What actually is cancer? The body constantly makes new cells to help us grow, replace worn-out tissue and heal injuries. Normally, cells multiply and die in a regulated way, so each new cell replaces a cell that is lost. Sometimes, however, cellular processes become dysregulated and cells keep multiplying. These abnormal cells may turn into cancer. In solid cancers, such as breast or prostate, the abnormal cells form a mass (tumour). In blood cancers, such as leukaemia, the abnormal cells build up in the blood. Cancerous tumours may sprea