Prince Charles fears cancer is becoming ‘forgotten C’ during Covid crisis

PRINCE Charles says he fears cancer is becoming the “forgotten C” in the Covid pandemic.

Patron of Macmillan Cancer Support, he says the virus is taking a “devastating toll” on NHS services.

He wrote in the Telegraph: “In many cases, due to the pandemic, difficulties have become crises, a sense of isolation has become actual separation, and – as vital treatment or surgery has in some cases been postponed – anxiety has become despair.

“Macmillan has been adapting to this ever-evolving situation to ensure that cancer does not become ‘the Forgotten C’ during the pandemic but, even so, Covid-19 has still taken a devastating toll, with the charity losing a third of its fundraised income.”

Experts say as many as 33,000 people should have started cancer treatment but haven’t due to coronavirus, highlighting the strain on services. 

Macmillan say up to 50,000 could be living with the disease and not know it, while studies estimated there could be excess cancer deaths between 7,000 and 18,000. 

Charles also paid tribute to the resolve of the British people for fighting through months of hardship. 

He added: “These are truly daunting circumstances. However, a charity set up to tackle cancer is not easily daunted and, as we have seen throughout this last year, right across our country the formidable will and compassion of the British people have outshone every darkness.”

“Much has been suffered; much has been lost.

“But much, too, has been rediscovered: an endurance that we somehow always knew was the bedrock of our character; a compassion that we trusted lay at the heart of our values; a courage which we sensed could always be called upon in the hour of greatest need.”

“In this crisis, the people of this country have not proved wanting. They have proved themselves equal to the highest of our ideals, inheritors of the best of our traditions and worthy of the momentous history in which they, too, have now played their part.”