‘King Charles’ effect’: Shock surgery puts spotlight on prostate treatment

Doctors have seen a spike in Australian men enquiring about their prostate health, less than a week after King Charles took the rare step of publicising his operation to raise awareness.

Adella Beaini

@adellabeaini

3 min read

January 30, 2024 - 9:57AM

News Corp Australia Network

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King Charles’ shock surgery has served as a wake-up call for Aussie men, as doctors see an increase in calls about prostate issues.

The 75-year-old underwent treatment for an enlarged prostate last week, with the monarch extending his hospital stay.

The King was due to be discharged from the London Clinic after two nights but remained under the care of doctors at the world-class facility for a third night.

It is believed that King Charles took the rare step of publicising his operation to raise awareness of prostate issues and men’s health concerns.

Vice President Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand Professor Damien Bolton said he has seen a surge in men inquiring and getting their prostate checked.

Vice President Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand Professor Damien Bolton.

King Charles is still recovering in hospital following his treatment. Picture: AFP

Dubbed the “King Charles effect”, leading urologist Prof Bolton said the increased awareness was similar to what doctors saw when Shane Warne’s death sparked a surge in the number of people getting heart checked.

Warne died suddenly in 2022 of a suspected heart attack while on holiday on Koh Samui Island in Thailand.

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president Karen Price said at the time that doctors had reported a remarkable rise in men making appointments with their GP after the news broke.

“Since King Charles’ announcement about having an enlarged prostate and undergoing surgery, there’s been a surge in Australia in both inquiries and men getting their prostate checked,” Prof. Bolton said.

“We applaud King Charles for talking so openly about having an enlarged prostate as it’s encouraging more Australian men to come forward and get their prostates checked, which will save lives in the long run.

“King Charles isn’t known for oversharing and for a long time, men have been reluctant to speak about prostate issues and surgery.

“The King’s announcement and surgery is normalising the conversation … it’s not a taboo anymore.”

Police officers stand guard outside the London Clinic in London where King Charles is staying. Picture: AFP

The condition, which isn’t cancerous, affects around half of Australian men aged between 50 and 60, and up to 90 per cent of men aged over 80.

And while King Charles’ operation is “extremely low risk” with complications, Professor Bolton warns men not to put off prostate issues, because it leads to extreme urinary infections, bladder damage, and even kidney failure.

“With an enlarged prostate, the benign growth can put pressure on the tube which passes urine, affecting bladder function,” he said.

“Changes in urination is a common symptom to look out for.”

In Australia, 25,000 procedures for an enlarged prostate are performed each year. The number of Australian men diagnosed with enlarged prostates and prostate cancer will rise over the next decade. There are already more than 3500 deaths across Australia and New Zealand annually from prostate cancer.

Queen Camilla is driven away from the London Clinic in London after visiting her husband King Charles. Picture: AFP

Chief Executive of Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia Anne Savage said: “With an ageing and increasing population, this makes it one of the most common conditions experienced by Australian men today. Despite this, awareness of the condition is relatively low.

“It’s common for the prostate to increase in size as men get older, usually from around the age of 50, and this can sometimes cause pressure on the urethra and the base of the bladder, making it harder for men to release urine.

“Not all men will have symptoms of prostate enlargement, or prostate cancer, which means awareness is key. Routine check-ups with a GP are vital.

“We are going to see increasing numbers of Australian men diagnosed with enlarged prostates and prostate cancer in the next five to ten years, placing significant pressure on families and on the health system.

Ms Savage said it was important for men to start having a good understanding of their family history of prostate-related conditions and to be “proactive about monitoring for any symptoms” and talking to an expert about PSA testing for prostate cancer.

“The guidelines for PSA testing for prostate cancer are currently under review, with the aim to ensure we are diagnosing potentially lethal prostate cancers at the earliest possible point,” she said.

“We are encouraged by the positive impact that this news has had on awareness and commend King Charles for speaking publicly about his treatment.”