King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer

[ellipses84]

This whole thread is wondering about the type of cancer he has and the severity without knowing any facts. I mentioned smoking because I actually thought Charles was a smoker and was surprised he wasn’t, and a lot of people in his family have suffered from types of cancer and other diseases that have higher risk factors related to smoking. I don’t think all cancer relates to smoking and I can see why the focus on smoking and cancer, which is emphasized by the CDC and NHS, is frustrating. I’d love to read more about it.

I’m also curious if the Royal family has done recent genetic testing and if they have genetic mutations that increase cancer risk, but I didn’t mention that in my other post. Many of the types of cancers they’ve had also relate to genetic mutations. Apparently Queen Elizabeth II had myeloma which hasn’t been proven to be linked to certain mutations but there’s a lot of speculation. My dad died from myeloma and had a mutation that isn’t proven to be related.

[mcsangel2]

Not only has Charles never been a smoker, (although Camilla was, until just a couple of years ago), he's been super into the organic movement for decades, and eats mostly vegetarian/vegan.

[ellipses84]

I’ve lived in 2 other counties with Universal Healthcare and have had many different Health Insurances in the US. I’d choose any universal system over the US system, which is so costly and unfair without results to justify the cost. The things people complain about with UH, like long wait times and delayed cancer treatment happen in the U.S. too.

Fun facts about my dad’s cancer. Luckily he was in another country (not UK) where he had universal healthcare and all it was paid for, including physical rehab, nursing home and hospice care. He actually lived far longer than his prognosis because he could get experimental stem cell treatments there and the U.S. was behind in that regard thanks to the anti-abortion movement. Also his genetic mutation originated in Wales (via his Welsh father an ancestors).

[gemini79]

Feb 8, 2024 9:33:13 GMT -5 rubytue said:

Feb 7, 2024 11:30:35 GMT -5 TR said:

What do you mean?

Not the PP, but a few examples:

The 5th post in this thread went straight to smoking. There are so many cancers *not* linked to smoking, but yet…. Someone is automatically “wonder how much smoke he was around…”  And, I’ve been on this soapbox before, but please can we stop hearing the word cancer and thinking smoking. It’s very damaging to patients. 

One can have perfect blood work and still have a lymphatic cancer 🙋‍♀️ 🙋‍♀️ 

Chemo and radiation both can be inpatient or outpatient. Depending on the type of cancer and the type of chemo. And even some that were once inpatient (ICE) are now sometimes outpatient. 

Thank you! 
More broadly--Cancer isn't *always* a death sentence. Scientifically MANY of us live with cancer--and btw we live really great and fulfilling lives. It's easy and almost automatic to go there--and speculating on the person's prognosis and "how bad it is" is so hard on the person because we are trying to have hope, and manage our situation --examples from this post include:
 
--Any time a person hears the words "you have cancer" It's a serious fucking moment---and even though there are going to variations in treatment timelines, given how serious it is, the system is going to jump on it, not give it a few minutes to see how things pan out lol. You can't make a leap of "oh they are starting treatment right away--ergo it MUST be *bad*" (which was said in this post). If people said that to me, I'd side-eye that and I'd be pissed off.  We already KNOW ITS SERIOUS GUYS--Mutation is in the building--but that also doesn't mean I'm dead yet!  


Same thing with family support: just because family is supporting you--doesn't mean it's the end of days. It means the person got the shittiest news of their lives and people are there for them. 

Cancer treatments are really specific--for the type of cancer, and even for the person. The comment from the oncologist who said "they don't know the type of cancer but they are most likely doing radiation on his bladder..." that doesn't even make sense, and is kind of infuriating to read. 

[cap]

Feb 8, 2024 12:15:51 GMT -5 mcsangel2 said:

Not only has Charles never been a smoker, (although Camilla was, until just a couple of years ago), he's been super into the organic movement for decades, and eats mostly vegetarian/vegan.

Organic foods are still sprayed with pesticides that can be as dangerous or more dangerous than synthetic pesticides.

[jlt19]

On the topic of cancer. My dad was dx with lung cancer summer of 2022. It wasn’t a huge shock, because he actually was a life long smoker. What was shocking to me:

1. They wouldn’t even know what kind of cancer it was (and if it was definitely cancer) until the biopsy. But that wasn’t going to be done until the surgery to remove it because of the small size and placement of the tumor.

2. Since he was a 60+ year smoker, he’s had annual CT scans ordered by his GP for many years. So it was caught early.

3. He had surgery in October 2022 and that was it. They removed the entire lower right lobe of his lung and that was that. No radiation, no chemo, no nothing.

Obviously I’m thrilled that my dad is still with us, but I can see how it’s “not fair” that his dx/treatment was so “easy”. It’s been over a year and it’s still a bit unnerving to say he’s in remission because it wasn’t what I expected it would be. Again, grateful for it, but still surreal.

He did quit smoking before surgery and hasn’t gone back, in case anyone was wondering.

[gemini79]

Feb 8, 2024 18:08:21 GMT -5 cap said:

Feb 8, 2024 12:15:51 GMT -5 mcsangel2 said:

Not only has Charles never been a smoker, (although Camilla was, until just a couple of years ago), he's been super into the organic movement for decades, and eats mostly vegetarian/vegan.

Organic foods are still sprayed with pesticides that can be as dangerous or more dangerous than synthetic pesticides.

Here we go.

[Deleted]

Feb 8, 2024 18:08:21 GMT -5 cap said:

Feb 8, 2024 12:15:51 GMT -5 mcsangel2 said:

Not only has Charles never been a smoker, (although Camilla was, until just a couple of years ago), he's been super into the organic movement for decades, and eats mostly vegetarian/vegan.

Organic foods are still sprayed with pesticides that can be as dangerous or more dangerous than synthetic pesticides.

I think many people like to attribute cancer to some kind of failure to keep oneself healthy, as if it’s the patients own fault for not being virtuous enough to avoid smoking, avoid sugar, avoid chemicals, avoid asbestos, avoid the sun….

I mean, my 14-month old baby had cancer, and it sure as hell wasn’t because of anything he was exposed to.

Someone on here once said that people like to attribute blame because it makes us feel safer about ourselves. But really, none of us are safe, and it’s scary to think about.

[bsp36]

Feb 8, 2024 20:46:56 GMT -5 @villainv said:

Feb 8, 2024 18:08:21 GMT -5 cap said:

Organic foods are still sprayed with pesticides that can be as dangerous or more dangerous than synthetic pesticides.

I think many people like to attribute cancer to some kind of failure to keep oneself healthy, as if it’s the patients own fault for not being virtuous enough to avoid smoking, avoid sugar, avoid chemicals, avoid asbestos, avoid the sun….

I mean, my 14-month old baby had cancer, and it sure as hell wasn’t because of anything he was exposed to.

Someone on here once said that people like to attribute blame because it makes us feel safer about ourselves. But really, none of us are safe, and it’s scary to think about.

My MIL was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, her dr said on multiple occasions at multiple appointments—you did nothing to cause the —you did nothing wrong—nothing could have prevented. I really appreciated that.

[underwaterrhymes]

Cancer is hugely prevalent in my family. All four of my dad’s siblings died of cancer, as did his dad. My mom’s brother and my sister both have lymphoma. And my stepdad and two non-biological aunts also died of cancer.

H’s side has quite a bit too. His mom had breast cancer twice, his aunt died of cancer, his cousin had colon cancer, another cousin had leukemia, and his stepmom just died of a very rare cancer.

I also have two genetic mutations that predispose me to cancer.

I think about cancer a lot because we’ve experienced so much stress and loss connected to it. I think people often try to find reasons for why someone has been diagnosed to help alleviate their own stress and fears, but I’ve learned that there often isn’t a reason. My stepdad and H’s stepmom were two of the healthiest people in our families prior to their diagnosis. Sometimes there just isn’t a why.

** caveat - my stepdad was on a renowned military base that was a dumping ground for toxic chemicals as a child, which we have learned is likely connected as he had multiple cancers over the years before he died. But for a long time we just didn’t know.

[cap]

Feb 8, 2024 20:28:24 GMT -5 gemini79 said:

Feb 8, 2024 18:08:21 GMT -5 cap said:

Organic foods are still sprayed with pesticides that can be as dangerous or more dangerous than synthetic pesticides.

Here we go.

May I ask what you mean by that? I’m stating a fact. And with a BS, MS, and PhD in horticulture, and a job that requires that I know quite a bit about pesticide labeling, use, and laws, I’m not just throwing out statements that I’ve read or heard somewhere.

[cap]

Feb 8, 2024 20:46:56 GMT -5 @villainv said:

Feb 8, 2024 18:08:21 GMT -5 cap said:

Organic foods are still sprayed with pesticides that can be as dangerous or more dangerous than synthetic pesticides.

I think many people like to attribute cancer to some kind of failure to keep oneself healthy, as if it’s the patients own fault for not being virtuous enough to avoid smoking, avoid sugar, avoid chemicals, avoid asbestos, avoid the sun….

I mean, my 14-month old baby had cancer, and it sure as hell wasn’t because of anything he was exposed to.

Someone on here once said that people like to attribute blame because it makes us feel safer about ourselves. But really, none of us are safe, and it’s scary to think about.

My comment wasn’t meant to cast any blame - I don’t think you were insinuating that I was, but I wanted to be sure. Anyway, I’m struggling with this now. I’m just had a thyroid biopsy and the results from it make it a lot more likely that I have thyroid cancer, but it doesn’t sound like I’ll know for sure until I’ve had either a lobectomy or total thyroidectomy. I know I didn’t do a damn thing that could have raised my risk. Biology is just messy.

[gemini79]

Feb 8, 2024 22:09:57 GMT -5 cap said:

Feb 8, 2024 20:28:24 GMT -5 gemini79 said:

Here we go.

May I ask what you mean by that? I’m stating a fact. And with a BS, MS, and PhD in horticulture, and a job that requires that I know quite a bit about pesticide labeling, use, and laws, I’m not just throwing out statements that I’ve read or heard somewhere.

A huge misconception or perpetuated myth in the cancer community is that pesticides "cause" cancer. This is a cancer post and while you said "dangerous" it feels like you are perpetuating this

There are plenty of reputable resources that disprove this and talk about the facts, how this started, kernels of truth etc.

There are also plenty of resources about why this type of myth is harmful to cancer survivors--but one of them villian already mentioned: it subtly (or not) puts the blame on us...and *others* us, which is shitty, and is done in service to try to make the person feel safe "it can't be me!"


It sounds like you are going through a really hard time, and I'm so sorry, it's very scary and overwhelming 💔

[Deleted]

Feb 8, 2024 22:15:56 GMT -5 cap said:

Feb 8, 2024 20:46:56 GMT -5 @villainv said:

I think many people like to attribute cancer to some kind of failure to keep oneself healthy, as if it’s the patients own fault for not being virtuous enough to avoid smoking, avoid sugar, avoid chemicals, avoid asbestos, avoid the sun….

I mean, my 14-month old baby had cancer, and it sure as hell wasn’t because of anything he was exposed to.

Someone on here once said that people like to attribute blame because it makes us feel safer about ourselves. But really, none of us are safe, and it’s scary to think about.

My comment wasn’t meant to cast any blame - I don’t think you were insinuating that I was, but I wanted to be sure. Anyway, I’m struggling with this now. I’m just had a thyroid biopsy and the results from it make it a lot more likely that I have thyroid cancer, but it doesn’t sound like I’ll know for sure until I’ve had either a lobectomy or total thyroidectomy. I know I didn’t do a damn thing that could have raised my risk. Biology is just messy.

I’m sorry to hear about your biopsy. No, I definitely did not think you were implying that at all! I feel like there’s a sentiment (not necessarily on here, but in general) of “How could he have cancer? He didn’t smoke and ate organic food?!!”

[basilosaurus]

Feb 6, 2024 17:57:24 GMT -5 ksun said:

I do not care for the King. I have not ever cared for him. I hink he is an awful person. However, I lost my dad and my grandpa to cancer. My dad just 5 months ago. I don't really wish cancer on anyone.

basilosaurus, my dad did not survive prostate cancer. I understand not caring for the King, which I don't either, but the comment was very misguided and hurtful.

I'm very sorry about that.

I haven't been back in this thread for days, but I'm not angry, and I certainly didn't mean to be hurtful, and I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that.

I'm just baffled why Americans think this matters, not why it's newsworthy. It is and deserves its place here for that reason.

There have been many rbf threads with people commenting who cares. (Marriages, kids, defections)

It's certainly more significant than any Kardashian news which thankfully we don't do. But it's not going to disrupt too much globally. I opened because it is global news.

I've long disliked this guy for trying to use so much royal money to prop up homeopathy which has absolutely harmed so many facing medical problems. So perhaps I am bitter about that. He has previously promoted bullshit to people with cancer from carrot juice to sugar pills, sometimes with the implication, at least to me and many other people, that people are to blame for their own cancers. And used royal money for it.

I do apologize for my flippant comment. He has family who will be upset.

[mrsukyankee]

Feb 8, 2024 18:08:21 GMT -5 cap said:

Feb 8, 2024 12:15:51 GMT -5 mcsangel2 said:

Not only has Charles never been a smoker, (although Camilla was, until just a couple of years ago), he's been super into the organic movement for decades, and eats mostly vegetarian/vegan.

Organic foods are still sprayed with pesticides that can be as dangerous or more dangerous than synthetic pesticides.

Not in the UK. In the UK (like the EU), organic farmers are permitted just 15 pesticides, all derived from natural ingredients such as garlic and clove oil, and only used in very restricted circumstances. Around 90% of Soil Association-certified organic farmers use no pesticides at all. 

[underwaterrhymes]

cap, I had a thyroid lobectomy back in 2016. It wound up being benign and I hope the same for you. ❤️

[sonrisa]

Cancer is awful. It doesn’t matter if he did things that raised his risk for this or that. Everyone does. We walk outside. We drink alcohol. We eat processed foods. We inherit genes. We live long enough for something to mutate. We live places with pollution. We date the wrong person. Whatever. Life itself is ‘known to the state of California to cause cancer.’ That isn’t a reason to throw around blame.

[cap]

Feb 8, 2024 23:23:44 GMT -5 gemini79 said:

Feb 8, 2024 22:09:57 GMT -5 cap said:

May I ask what you mean by that? I’m stating a fact. And with a BS, MS, and PhD in horticulture, and a job that requires that I know quite a bit about pesticide labeling, use, and laws, I’m not just throwing out statements that I’ve read or heard somewhere.

A huge misconception or perpetuated myth in the cancer community is that pesticides "cause" cancer. This is a cancer post and while you said "dangerous" it feels like you are perpetuating this

There are plenty of reputable resources that disprove this and talk about the facts, how this started, kernels of truth etc.

There are also plenty of resources about why this type of myth is harmful to cancer survivors--but one of them villian already mentioned: it subtly (or not) puts the blame on us...and *others* us, which is shitty, and is done in service to try to make the person feel safe "it can't be me!"


It sounds like you are going through a really hard time, and I'm so sorry, it's very scary and overwhelming 💔

My response was in no way meant to say that any pesticides cause cancer. It was in response to another poster that said that King Charles ate organic foods - I interpreted that as them saying that his consumption of organic food lowered his risk of developing cancer.

There's a huge misconception out there that organic foods aren't sprayed, or that organic pesticides are safer than conventional, and that's simply not the case. That said, pesticides, both synthetic and organic, can be very dangerous. That's why pesticide labels are legal documents and using pesticides in a manner that is inconsistent with the label is a violation of federal law. The penalties for illegal use of pesticides are pretty stiff. The federal Worker Protection Standards law was put into place to help protect agricultural workers from pesticide exposure. I am a licensed pesticide applicator, teach WPS courses, and make decisions about what pesticides to use in the large research facility I run. That said, I also made the decision to start using beneficial organisms to control the insect and mite pests, mostly because of the risks pesticides pose to human health and the environment. We've cut insecticide use by half already, and I know that we'll keep being able to reduce use as we learn more about how to effectively use the beneficials. 

And thank you, I am pretty overwhelmed right now. I can't seem to catch a break with my health. I had a pulmonary embolism in July, and before that, was diagnosed with microscopic colitis in January. I've had ulcerative colitis for 15 years. I know nothing that I did caused any of this, but I really wonder if something else is going on medically to have caused three pretty big things to pop up in a year. 

[gemini79]

cap I also had a pulmonary embolism last year in January and they are sp weird and scary..and I've had some of the same thoughts as you expressed too. Like 'wtf is going on in here body!?" Its very hard, and VERY unnerving, unsettling to your sense of self.

I also understand that posts like these can feel very personal (um because it IS personal!)..even though they are *just* about king Charles lol.

We are all trying to do our best and I just wanted to send you an internet stranger support hug.

[basilosaurus]

Feb 9, 2024 4:39:56 GMT -5 mrsukyankee said:

Feb 8, 2024 18:08:21 GMT -5 cap said:

Organic foods are still sprayed with pesticides that can be as dangerous or more dangerous than synthetic pesticides.

Not in the UK. In the UK (like the EU), organic farmers are permitted just 15 pesticides, all derived from natural ingredients such as garlic and clove oil, and only used in very restricted circumstances. Around 90% of Soil Association-certified organic farmers use no pesticides at all. 

natural doesn't mean safe, though. Arsenic is natural, so is lead. I'm not saying those are allowed, but I'm calling out the natural fallacy. Organic pesticides aren't always healthier as there is so much politicking going into the gate keeping. I'm guessing though eu is much better at this

And I will forever deride anyone who promotes or asks for chemical free. That's natural fallacy with a large side of absolute stupidity. Not that anyone did that here, but people in that world do that, and he's very much a part of that world.

Maybe my impression is outdated, but he absolutely promoted really anti scientific views on health that likely harmed so many.

[mrsukyankee]

basilosaurus, I was just pointing out that organic in the UK and the EU are probably held to a different standard to that in the US and that the majority of organic farmers over here don't even use pesticides (we all know that a lot of things used in the US are prohibited in Europe). I'm not a fan of Charles or the monarchy in general, so wasn't defending him in any way.