Launched on Friday, December 5, Stand Up To Cancer 2025 runs through December 12, bringing Cancer Research UK and Channel 4 together for a week-long push to spotlight early diagnosis, raise funds for cancer research, and support people affected by cancer—building toward a major televised fundraising night at the end of the week.
As the UK heads into the festive season, King Charles used the moment to ask people to hold space for those living with cancer—and the families and friends supporting them—while backing a week-long awareness push launched on December 5 to promote early diagnosis, fund cancer research, and stand with everyone affected.
“This is a season when our thoughts turn to celebrations with our friends and families.”
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Drawing from his own experience, the King underscored how frightening a diagnosis can feel, while stressing that finding cancer sooner can change what happens next—giving clinicians more time to act and giving patients something powerful to hold onto.
“Early detection is the key that can transform treatment journeys… and, to their patients, the precious gift of hope.”
He also highlighted what he described as a “community of care” around every patient—specialists, nurses, researchers, and volunteers—whose day-to-day work saves lives and improves them, often in ways the public never fully sees.
“I have been profoundly moved by what I can only call the ‘community of care’ that surrounds every cancer patient.”
But the message carried an urgent warning: millions of screening invitations are going unused, and that means missed chances to diagnose cancer earlier. To illustrate the stakes, he pointed to colorectal (bowel) cancer outcomes—dramatically better when caught early than when found late—and summed it up plainly: early diagnosis saves lives.
“At least nine million people in our country are not up to date with the cancer screenings available to them.”
To help remove fear and uncertainty, he welcomed a new national online Screening Checker that helps people see whether they’re eligible for breast, bowel, or cervical screening and what steps to take next—because compassion matters, but action matters too.
“Compassion must be paired with action.”
He closed with thanks for healthcare teams and researchers—and a direct appeal to take screening seriously, not later, not someday, but now.
“Your life – or the life of someone you love – may depend upon it.”
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