Posted by: Emily Craig Mailonline Deputy Health Editor
February 6, 2024 10:13, updated February 6, 2024 12:09
- Christina Kyriaku said the king “will be very philosophical and curious.”
- “He loves alternative medicine,” she told Good Morning Britain today.
King Charles’ former press secretary suggested alternative cancer treatments could be available alongside typical treatments.
Christina Kyriaku, who advised the king for seven years when he was crown prince, said the 75-year-old monarch “will be very philosophical and curious” after the shocking diagnosis.
“He loves alternative medicine,” she told Good Morning Britain.
“He’s going to be taking a blend. He’s going to have traditional treatment, but he’s going to use this as an opportunity to be more enlightened.”
Last night Buckingham Palace dramatically revealed that doctors had discovered an unspecified form of cancer while treating a man for a benign prostate condition. However, it is not prostate cancer.
Details regarding his medical condition have not been disclosed. He remains “completely positive” and looks forward to returning to full official duties.
Family and friends said they were surprised by the king’s determination to continue with “business as usual.”
His symptoms were detected very early and the prognosis is understood to be good.
King Charles began a “regular treatment schedule” yesterday, but has long expressed support for alternative medicine.
Typical treatment focuses on surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
Cancer Research UK points out that some patients use complementary therapies to feel better, reduce the side effects of these treatments and improve their quality of life.
The most common examples include aromatherapy, acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage therapy, visualization, and yoga.
On the other hand, alternative treatments are usually used instead of medical treatment.
Examples include shark cartilage supplements, laetrile (a plant-based substance), and the Gerson therapy, which involves following an organic vegetarian diet and taking up to five coffee enemas a day.
There is no scientific or medical evidence that these treatments can cure cancer.
According to Cancer Research UK, some may be unsafe, cause harmful side effects or interact with medical treatments.
King Charles has previously expressed support for the Gerson therapy, which involves drinking up to 13 glasses of fruit juice a day.
In 2004, he told the Royal College of Gynecologists that the drug should be investigated for its “beneficial properties” rather than being dismissed.
He cited the case of an unidentified patient who was told he would not survive another round of chemotherapy, but was “alive and well” seven years after switching to Gerson therapy, The Guardian reported at the time. .
Doctors rejected his claims and the treatment was not adopted by the NHS and was only available in specialist private clinics.
Professor Edzard Ernst, an internationally renowned specialist in complementary medicine, has built a reputation for denouncing treatments that have no scientific basis.
In his book Charles, the Other Prince, he warned that the only clinical trial of Gerson’s therapy suggested “shortened survival, not increased survival.”
The King is also a keen supporter of homeopathy. It is based on the principle of “like cures like,” so even substances known to cause certain symptoms can cure the symptoms.
He promoted homeopathy and other alternative medicine through the Integrative Health Foundation. The foundation was founded in 1993 but closed in 2010 amid allegations of fraud and money laundering.
A memo sent by King Charles to then Prime Minister Tony Blair in 2004 asked him to tackle EU legislation restricting the use of herbal medicine in the UK.
Limited details have been detailed about the King’s current battle with cancer, but his treatment is likely overseen by: Dr Michael Dixon will serve as Head of the Royal Medical Household from 2022. Known for supporting complementary therapies.
The king faced criticism from academics and campaigners in December after it was revealed that Dr Dixon had been appointed to the role responsible for the health of the king and the royal family.
At the time, Buckingham Palace defended Dr Dixon’s appointment, saying he believed complementary therapies “can be used in conjunction with conventional treatments, as long as they are safe, appropriate and evidence-based.”
The GP, who holds an OBE for services to primary care, supports providing treatments such as aromatherapy and reflexology on the NHS.
In a paper he wrote, he mentioned experiments that suggested Indian herbal medicines “ultra-diluted” with alcohol could treat cancer, but Buckingham Palace said Dr. Dixon himself said they were effective. He categorically denies that he believes that.
“Dr Dixon does not believe that homeopathy can cure cancer,” a palace statement at the time of his appointment said.
“His position is that complementary therapies can be used alongside conventional treatments, as long as they are safe, appropriate and evidence-based.”
Dr. Dixon, who reportedly prescribed plants such as devil’s claw and horn goat weed to his patients, has also written a paper suggesting that Christian healers may be able to help people with chronic illnesses.
It is hoped that the king’s healthy lifestyle will best support his fight against cancer.
In addition to eating a healthy breakfast of fresh fruit with plenty of flaxseed, the king said he regularly refrains from eating meat, fish and dairy products on certain days.
Meanwhile, a list of facts about Charles on the royal family website confirms that Charles “doesn’t eat lunch” due to his busy schedule.
“The king doesn’t eat lunch. The king doesn’t eat lunch,” said Julian Payne, Kyriacou’s former press secretary. So an early lesson I learned when going out with him was to eat a big breakfast or bring some snack bars to stay energized.
“Working days are pretty grueling. We start with radio news headlines and a breakfast of seasonal fruit salad and seeds and tea.”
In fact, Payne said his only break is taken around 1 p.m. “not to eat, but to get out and walk.” He is also active in hill walking and gardening.
He rarely required hospital treatment, apart from relatively minor illnesses, recent treatment for an enlarged prostate, and polo and skiing accidents.
Ms Kyriacou, who oversaw the king’s communications from 2009 to 2016, told Sky News this morning that the king had an “excellent diet”.
She said, “If you were having breakfast with him in the morning and you opened the wrong lid of the wrong breakfast, you would find something like birdseed.”
“He really takes care of himself. He walks, he stays active, he doesn’t eat lunch, he drinks afternoon tea. It’s a very light afternoon tea.
“He’s probably accomplished so much that he’s already in a good position at his age.”
Experts agree that maintaining a healthy lifestyle is important both in cancer prevention and during treatment.
Evidence shows that it can help manage stress and fatigue caused by illness or treatment.
Studies have shown that people who exercise during treatment not only cope better with side effects, but may also live longer.
International guidelines recommend that patients remain active and return to normal activities as soon as possible.
