Current:Home > NewsKing Charles has cancer and we don’t know what kind. How we talk about it matters.-LoTradeCoin
King Charles has cancer and we don’t know what kind. How we talk about it matters.
View Date:2024-12-23 21:10:05
King Charles III has cancer. No, we don't know what kind. No, we don't know how advanced. No, we don't know, well, much of anything.
The news – which Buckingham Palace announced Monday – follows a recent prostate procedure for Charles, whose coronation was last May.
"He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible," the statement read. "His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer."
Speculation, though, will run rampant anyway, as it did for his daughter-in-law Princess Kate amid her own recent planned abdominal surgery, subsequent hospitalization and pause of public duties.
Experts warn that while it's certainly OK to wonder about the lives of public figures – or anyone in their life – people should remember that everyone deserves respect amid a health scare. And a man like Charles, in this case, is still human.
"Due to the public nature of their life, some people can inappropriately believe they are entitled to every aspect of their life which is untrue," says Chase Cassine, licensed clinical social worker. "Celebrities and public figures are humans and deserve the fundamental human right of autonomy and self-determination by controlling what aspects of their lives will be self-disclosed."
'We should avoid assumptions'
Health scares are, for lack of a better word, scary. Though Charles may be "wholly positive," we're not privy to all the nuances bouncing around his brain. We also don't need to know.
"We should avoid assumptions about how he feels," says Amy Morin, psychotherapist, author of "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don’t Do" and the host of a podcast. "The emotional response someone has to a diagnosis is individual and personal."
Just because someone has a crown on their head doesn't render them immune to pain or suffering – from a serious health condition or gossip.
"Instead of speculating and spreading false information, people should allow a safe and respectful space for the person whether they are providing information on their protected health information or not," Cassine says. "They are not obligated to do so."
The full story:King Charles III diagnosed with cancer following hospitalization for prostate procedure
'Outside opinions' not helpful
If you're struggling on how to think about Charles – or maybe how to talk to a sick individual in your life – keep it simple.
"It's safe to say things like, 'We're wishing him the best,'" Morin adds. "It's important to avoid judgments about treatment options. It's up to the patient and the doctor to determine the best course of action. Outside opinions about treatments and suggestions about how to proceed aren't helpful."
If you don't want to say anything at all, you could even send a card or a meal without asking any questions at all.
Generally speaking: "You can be sensitive to someone's health struggles without knowing the details," Morin says. "You can wish the person well without knowing what's wrong. And you can let them know you're thinking of them without understanding the extent of their treatment."
Heads up:Princess Kate's surgery news ignites gossip. Why you should mind your business.
veryGood! (61)
Related
- Beyoncé has released lots of new products. Here's a Beyhive gift guide for the holidays
- Inside Clean Energy: Ohio Shows Hostility to Clean Energy. Again
- Former NFL Star Ryan Mallett Dead at 35 in Apparent Drowning at Florida Beach
- Binance lawsuit, bank failures and oil drilling
- 'Underbanked' households more likely to own crypto, FDIC report says
- Coal Powered the Industrial Revolution. It Left Behind an ‘Absolutely Massive’ Environmental Catastrophe
- Elvis Presley’s Stepbrother Apologizes for “Derogatory” Allegations About Singer
- A Bridge to Composting and Clean Air in South Baltimore
- Cold case arrest: Florida man being held in decades-old Massachusetts double murder
- The $7,500 tax credit to buy an electric car is about to change yet again
Ranking
- November 2024 full moon this week is a super moon and the beaver moon
- Adam Sandler's Daughter Sunny Sandler Is All Grown Up During Rare Red Carpet Appearance
- A Bridge to Composting and Clean Air in South Baltimore
- Kellie Pickler and Kyle Jacobs' Sweet Love Story: Remembering the Light After His Shocking Death
- PSA: Coach Outlet Has Stocking Stuffers, Gifts Under $100 & More for the Holidays RN (up to 60% Off)
- Hurry! Everlane’s 60% Off Sale Ends Tonight! Don’t Miss Out on These Summer Deals
- Gas Stoves in the US Emit Methane Equivalent to the Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Half a Million Cars
- Deadly ‘Smoke Waves’ From Wildfires Set to Soar
Recommendation
-
Olympic Skier Lindsey Vonn Coming Out of Retirement at 40
-
A career coach unlocks the secret to acing your job interview and combating anxiety
-
Even Kate Middleton Is Tapping Into the Barbiecore Trend
-
The president of the United Auto Workers union has been ousted in an election
-
Oregon's Dan Lanning, Indiana's Curt Cignetti pocket big bonuses after Week 11 wins
-
Octomom Nadya Suleman Shares Rare Insight Into Her Life With 14 Kids
-
Search for baby, toddler washed away in Pennsylvania flooding impeded by poor river conditions
-
Saudis, other oil giants announce surprise production cuts