When King Charles delivered his Stand Up to Cancer talk, he spoke passionately about the importance of cancer screening and his own journey of recovery. His words were broadcast across the nation, celebrated as a message of hope. Yet for women in prison across England, the speech was a devastating reminder of their invisibility.
Behind prison walls, women living with cancer are denied access to screening, hospital appointments, and even basic treatment. Their letters and appeals for mercy have gone unanswered. While the King expressed gratitude for reduced treatment next year, incarcerated women cannot even access the most fundamental care. This stark contrast is not just disappointing; it is shameful and unacceptable in 21st-century England.
Cancer does not discriminate, but the justice system does. Women in prison are punished twice: once by the courts, and again by a healthcare system that abandons them. Their suffering is compounded by silence from those in power. When the monarch speaks about cancer without acknowledging their plight, it reinforces a hierarchy of whose lives are deemed worthy of compassion.
This is not a matter of politics; it is a matter of humanity. If cancer awareness is to mean anything, it must extend to those society has locked away. Ignoring these women perpetuates inequality and undermines the very principles of justice and dignity.
The King’s recovery is celebrated, but the women in prison remain unseen. Their struggle is real, urgent, and demands attention. The time for change is now.