Older Men Thankful That King Charles III Is Removing The Shame Of Being Older and Getting Cancer

Last month, a source close to the Royal Family told NBC News Britain’s King needed a surgical procedure for a benign enlarged prostate.

King Charles was “keen to share the details of his diagnosis to encourage other men who may be experiencing symptoms to get checked, in line with public health advice,” NBC News reported.

According to U.K.-based news outlet the BBC, King Charles’ cancer was discovered while undergoing treatment for his benign enlarged prostate.

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDKD) says benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) “is a condition in men in which the prostate gland is enlarged and not cancerous.”

The NIDDKD explains, “The prostate goes through two main growth periods as a man ages. The first occurs early in puberty when the prostate doubles in size. The second phase of growth begins around age 25 and continues during most of a man’s life. Benign prostatic hyperplasia often occurs with the second growth phase.”

“As the prostate enlarges, the gland presses against and pinches the urethra. The bladder wall becomes thicker. Eventually, the bladder may weaken and lose the ability to empty completely, leaving some urine in the bladder. The narrowing of the urethra and urinary retention, the inability to empty the bladder completely, cause many of the problems associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia.”

Shortly after the King’s cancer diagnosis was made public, he began treatment. Exact details of the type of treatment he’s receiving have not been disclosed at this time. Buckingham Palace says Charles was advised to “postpone public-facing duties” but will continue undertaking “state business and official paperwork as usual.”

Choosing to Continue Working During Cancer Treatment

King Charles III’s decision to keep working, albeit in a light manner, is something many SurvivorNet experts recommend patients do if they can continue to work.

“We always encourage people to continue to work if they can,” says Sarah Stapleton, a clinical social worker at Montefiore Medical Center.

“I think it creates a sense of normalcy for patients.”

If you’re able to work, you’ll be busy, and you may not be worrying all the time about how your treatment is going, Stapleton adds.

Sometimes, cancer can make you feel isolated and lonely, and being around people for work can alleviate feelings of loneliness.

It would be best to talk with your doctor before continuing to work during treatment. Ask your physician what you can and cannot do so you don’t disrupt ongoing treatment.

Remember, sometimes cancer treatment can cause fatigue, leaving you unable to fulfill your duties as you once could.

Fortunately, some on-the-job accommodations can make working during cancer treatment much easier.

While King Charles III may not need to worry about assurance regarding on-the-job accommodation, ensuring accommodations is an important issue for everyday people.

WATCH: Choosing to Work During Cancer Treatment

The Rehabilitation Act or the Americans with Disabilities Act protects people with job problems related to cancer. The Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) may also benefit others. This law allows many people with serious illnesses to take unpaid leave to get medical care or manage their symptoms.

Your human resources department should be able to share with you your options.

In some situations, employers must accommodate a qualified applicant or employee with a disability unless the employer can show it would be an undue hardship to do so. This could mean making changes to work schedules, equipment, or policies.

Laurie Ostacher, a behavioral health clinician at Stanford Health Care, recommends that cancer patients discuss accommodations they may need upon returning to work with their employers.

“Patients need to let their employer know [they’re] going to need some flexibility… Because there are going to be days when you’re not as energetic or feeling as well as other days,” Ostacher explained.

Screening for Prostate Cancer

Although King Charles III did not have prostate cancer, regular screening of his prostate helped lead to his latest diagnosis. By bravely sharing his condition, he’s encouraged many men to undergo prostate cancer screening.

When you do get screened for prostate cancer, your doctor will run a few tests.

One of the tests is the PSA test, a simple blood test that screens for prostate cancer. It looks for larger amounts of protein-specific antigen (PSA) in the blood. An elevated PSA test does not always mean you have prostate cancer. It could also reflect that your prostate is enlarged, which is common, or it could signal an infection or inflammation.

Your doctor may also conduct a digital rectal exam (DRE) to check your prostate for lumps.

Depending on the results of these tests, imaging scans and a biopsy may be ordered.

WATCH: How Gleason Grade Determines Treatment

After tests, your doctor analyzes the results to give you a Gleason Score. This score ranges from 6 to 10. The higher the score, the more aggressive the cancer.

This score, along with your other test results, helps doctors determine if your cancer is “low risk,” “intermediate risk,” or “high risk.”

Prostate cancer does not always behave the same in every man it impacts. The cancer can be considered “low-risk” and can be slow-growing, and treatment might not be necessary. In other men, the cancer may grow faster or more aggressively, requiring more immediate treatment. Because of this, there is some debate about screening.

The United States Preventive Services Taskforce recommends men at average risk between the ages of 55-69 years old should talk with their doctor about the pros and cons of prostate cancer screening. Most doctors agree that men over the age of 70 do not need screening.

SurvivorNet experts suggested that men consider factors like their family history, genes, and age when deciding whether and when to screen.

Symptoms of prostate cancer may include:

• Urinating more often
• Waking up in the middle of the night to pee
• Blood in your urine
• Trouble getting an erection
• Pain or burning when you urinate
• Pain in your back, hips, thighs, or other bones
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue

Questions for Your Doctor

If you have experienced symptoms associated with prostate cancer or have a screening coming up, here are some questions you may ask your doctor:

• If I have elevated PSA levels, what could be causing that besides cancer?
• How long will it take to learn if my PSA levels warrant further testing?
• What are the treatment options that are best suited for me based on my risk level?
• What financial resources exist to help me with the costs associated with treatment?
• How long will my potential treatment prevent me from working or continuing normal activities?

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