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King Charles to attend hospital for prostate treatment

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10 months ago

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The King will go to hospital next week where he will be treated for an enlarged prostate.

The 75-year-old monarch’s condition is benign but his public engagements will be postponed while he recuperates after the corrective procedure in a few days, Buckingham Palace has announced.

He 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, it is understood.

The King had a series of meetings and events planned at Dumfries House in East Ayrshire on Thursday and Friday, which are now being postponed on the advice of his doctor.

The palace update came less than two hours after it was announced that his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, had undergone abdominal surgery and will remain in hospital for up to two weeks.

In a statement, the palace said: “In common with thousands of men each year, the King has sought treatment for an enlarged prostate.

“His Majesty’s condition is benign and he will attend hospital next week for a corrective procedure.

“The King’s public engagements will be postponed for a short period of recuperation.”

Image:
The Princess of Wales has undergone abdominal surgery

The NHS describes a benign enlarged prostate as a condition that can affect how people urinate, and is common among men aged over 50.

“It’s not a cancer and it’s not usually a serious threat to health,” the NHS said on its website.

“Many men worry that having an enlarged prostate means they have an increased risk of developing prostate cancer. This is not the case.”

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The Royal Family’s very eventful 2023

But benign prostate enlargement can sometimes lead to complications, such as a urinary tract infection, chronic urinary retention, and acute urinary retention.

The NHS also said the cause of prostate enlargement is unknown, but it is believed to be linked to hormonal changes as a man gets older.

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What are treatments for enlarged prostate gland?

On its website, the NHS says the treatment will depend on how badly the symptoms are affecting a person’s qualify of life. The main treatments are: lifestyle changes, medicine, catheters, surgery and other procedures.

Most men with urinary symptoms do not need to have surgery, but it may be an option if other treatments have not worked or give the person severe side effects, or their symptoms are severe.

So what are some of the options when it comes to surgery and other procedures?

Transurethral resection of the prostate: This involves removing part of the prostate gland using a device called a resectoscope that’s passed through the urethra (the tube through which urine passes out of the body). It’s suitable for men who have an enlarged prostate.

Holmium laser: This treatment uses a laser to remove the portion of the prostate that is blocking the flow of urine.

Water ablation: There are two types of procedure for this. In the first, water is injected into the prostate using a probe in the urethra. The pressure of the water is then used to destroy some of the prostate tissue, making it smaller.

The second type is very similar except steam, rather than water, is used to destroy prostate tissue.

Greenlight XPS: This is a type of laser that can be used to destroy prostate tissue. The laser is fired through a small tube which is passed up the urethra.

PLASMA system: During this surgery, electrodes are put into the prostate through the urethra and are used to cut out prostate tissue. This surgery is usually offered when symptoms are severe or if other treatments and medicine have not worked.

Source: NHS website

The balance of hormones in a person’s body changes as they get older and this may cause their prostate gland to grow.

The monarch acceded to the throne just 16 months ago after spending 70 years as the heir to the throne, and was crowned last May in Westminster Abbey.

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