PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) — King Norodom Sihamoni of Cambodia revealed on Friday that he has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and will remain in China to receive medical treatment for the condition.
The 72-year-old monarch shared the news through a post on his Facebook page, which was also distributed by Cambodia’s official news agency AKP. According to his statement, doctors discovered the cancer during a routine medical examination at a government hospital in Beijing. The king had traveled to China in late February alongside his mother, Queen Mother Norodom Monineath, for their annual health screenings.
The king’s announcement did not provide details regarding the severity of his diagnosis. Medical experts note that prostate cancer typically responds well to treatment when caught in its early phases. The American Cancer Society reports that roughly one out of every eight men will face a prostate cancer diagnosis at some point in their lives.
This health challenge follows a similar path taken by Sihamoni’s father, the late King Norodom Sihanouk, who also sought medical care in China. The elder king received his own prostate cancer diagnosis as far back as 1993 but continued to live for nearly two more decades, passing away in Beijing in 2012 at the age of 89.
King Sihamoni assumed the throne in October 2004, just one week following his father’s decision to step down. His position operates primarily in a ceremonial capacity, and he typically stays out of the public spotlight.
Prior to his royal duties, Sihamoni worked as Cambodia’s representative to UNESCO, the United Nations’ cultural organization, and gained recognition as a performer in classical ballet. He remains unmarried and has no offspring.
