The Duke of Cambridge donned scrubs at the Royal Marsden in Chelsea on Tuesday, visiting the hospital to see the vital work being done for cancer diagnosis and research.
First, William visited the Reuben Foundation Imaging Centre to see the work of interventional radiologists with robotic-guided ablation and how this process is more efficient for patient treatment.
Prince William then toured one of the Royal Marsden’s Man Vans, which is a mobile health clinic that travels around London to provide access to cancer screenings to ensure that early diagnoses are given to men who may not have regular healthcare.
During the tour, the Duke of Cambridge inquired about the warning signs for prostate cancer and offered up the idea of exchanging a free pint for a cancer screening appointment to encourage men who may not have access to healthcare to take the opportunity to screen themselves.
“You’re going to have to think a bit imaginatively to get guys in here. It’s a kind of thing they’ll do if there’s a fun thing that goes with it, not too serious,” William told Dr Masood Moghul.
The Duke also had the chance to meet with some of the nurses who helped take care of Dame Deborah James while she was receiving treatment for bowel cancer. Dame Deborah recently announced that she was moving to hospice care for end-of-life treatment, and a fundraising initiative sparked over £5 million in donations.
Given her rapid fundraising success, Dame Deborah was granted a damehood earlier this month, and William presented it to her in person with her family. William told one of her doctors: “It is important to acknowledge and recognize people like Deborah who do such an awful lot to help other people in very difficult circumstances. She’s done a brilliant job.”
“It was a privilege to welcome our President, The Duke of Cambridge, back to The Royal Marsden to show him some of our new developments,” said Dame Cally Palmer, Chief Executive of The Royal Marsden, in a statement.
“From initiatives to diagnose cancer earlier, to increasingly precise treatments to target advanced disease, we’re finding ways to improve every stage of the cancer pathway.”
The Duke of Cambridge first became patron of The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust in 2007.
