Return to work will be ‘therapeutic’ for King Charles and a return to ‘normality’ could speed up his recovery from cancer, claims top expert Professor Karol Sikora
King Charles’ return to work has been hailed as a ‘very encouraging’ step in his cancer journey.
Buckingham Palace today announced that the King will return to his public duties after a three-month absence.
Charles, 75, is not yet free from the disease and is still undergoing treatment.
However, it is believed that 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 of experience, told MailOnline that the news was incredibly positive for His 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 experiences a shock when diagnosed and often takes time off work,” he said.
“Going back to work is therapeutic in a way.”
He said a return to “normality”, whether work, family duties or education, had a significant psychological impact and could speed up recovery from both the disease and 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 significant uncertainties in the aftermath of a diagnosis about treatment options, whether it will be successful and the risk that the cancer could return.
“Some people break down and never get back to normal,” he said.
“It’s therapeutic to just get out there and not sit around complaining about the cancer.”
Buckingham Palace also conveyed the King and Queen’s grateful thanks for all the well wishes they have received in the weeks since his diagnosis.
One of Charles’ first official events will be a particularly moving visit to a cancer treatment center, where he will meet medical specialists and patients alike.
In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: ‘His Majesty The King will soon return to 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 medical specialists and patients.
“This visit will be the first of a number of external engagements that His Majesty will undertake in the coming weeks.”
The king’s current health problems first became public in January when it was announced he was going to hospital for surgery on an enlarged prostate.
He stayed at the London Clinic for three days.
Then in February it was revealed that tests had discovered cancer elsewhere in his body.
Buckingham Palace has not revealed the exact type of cancer the king has, nor details of the treatment he has undergone. However, it is not believed to be prostate cancer.
Officials have stressed that His Majesty’s cancer treatment is still ongoing, saying: ‘His Majesty’s treatment program will continue, but doctors are sufficiently satisfied with the progress made to date that the King will now make a number of public can resume tasks.
“Upcoming engagements will be adjusted as necessary to minimize risks to His Majesty’s continued recovery.”
A spokesperson said they could not specify how long the recovery is expected to take: ‘It is too early to say, but His Majesty’s medical team is very encouraged by the progress made to date and remains positive about the way forward recovery of the king.’
Professor Karol Sikora, a world-renowned oncologist with more than 40 years of experience, told MailOnline that the news was incredibly positive for His Majesty
They added that ‘all public engagements will be announced in the usual way closer to that time and will remain subject to the advice of doctors’ and stressed that it would not be a ‘full summer programme’.
It is still unclear whether the King will be able to travel to Normandy in June for the big D-Day anniversary commemorations or to Australia, New Zealand and Samoa as planned in October, but it is clear that the King is keen for his health to continue allows.
Charles isn’t the only royal facing a battle with cancer.
The Princess of Wales, 42, shared her own shocking cancer diagnosis and underwent preventative chemotherapy last month.