Edwina Bartholomew has thanked Sunrise co-host Natalie Barr for prompting her to get tested for cancer and ultimately discovering her illness, and is now encouraging all Australians to get checked if they sense something is wrong.
The TV star, 41, fought back tears on Friday’s show as she admitted: ‘I have been diagnosed with cancer.
‘That’s a shock to say and hard to say,’ she continued, her voice breaking with emotion.
‘It is a really good kind. It is called chronic myeloid leukaemia. It can be treated with a daily tablet. If I can take care of myself, I will be completely fine.’
Edwina Bartholomew, 41, has revealed she has been diagnosed with cancer in a tearful on-air admission during Friday’s Sunrise. Pictured left with co-star Natalie Barr
While chronic myeloid leukaemia, a cancer that affects the blood and bone marrow, can be managed, it can become very serious if left untreated.
Edwina revealed her co-star Barr was to thank for getting diagnosed quickly.
Barr, 56, had a similar scare in June when a skin cancer was found on her nose, and she spoke out about it on Sunrise at the time.
‘I had a pimple on my nose that wouldn’t go away, plus I reckon it had been couple of years since I had a skin check, so I went the dermatologist,’ Barr told viewers, in a segment that showed her attending a clinic to seek treatment.
‘He said it was skin cancer — this tiny little dot on my nose. The good thing is I got it really early, and there’s not much treatment,’ she said.
Barr shared her story to inspire others to get checked, and just moments after the segment aired, Bartholomew picked up her phone and booked her own appointment.
A month later, in July, Bartholomew received her shocking diagnosis. She chose to keep it private, confiding only in a few close friends at work.
In June, Bartholomew had hopped on her phone to book herself in for an appointment, after Nat Barr revealed her cancer scare
Nat Barr’s routine skin check uncovered skin cancer on her nose, and she spoke out about it on Sunrise at the time
‘I had a mammogram after I had a few lumps. That came back all clear. I even had an eye check. That’s fine. But my doctor sent me to get routine blood tests at the same time,’ Edwina continued.
‘One of those tests came back with levels out of whack.
‘I feel very, very lucky and I wanted to share this with you for a couple of reasons.
‘Firstly, because everyone at home and here has been here for all the wonderful times, for the engagements, and the weddings and the babies, for all of us. It felt right to share this with you too.
‘Many of you have been in similar situations or much, much worse and come out the other side stronger… and more resilient. That’s exactly what I plan to do.’
Edwina said the other reason she wished to share her sad news was because she wanted to encourage others to get checked.
‘Particularly for mums who always take care of everyone else, please take care of yourself too. And just check in with your doctor,’ she said.
She thanked all her co-stars for their support, singling out Natalie in particular ‘for constantly checking in and [providing] all the meals as well’.
Edwina then nodded her head to colleagues Monique Wright and Sally Bowrey ‘who shuffle around their family commitments so I could take care of mine’.
After thanking her bosses at Sunrise, Edwina revealed to viewers that she will be ‘taking time off in September’ before cutting down on her work at Sunrise.
The TV star broke down as she admitted on-air: ‘I have been diagnosed with cancer. I thought I could keep it together’
The former Dancing With The Stars co-host said she will knock her work responsibilities down to just a few days a week at Sunrise when she returns.
‘Despite appearances, I feel really positive about it. It genuinely is the luckiest unlucky thing to ever happen to me,’ she assured viewers.
‘I’m just beyond grateful I found it, and beyond grateful it’s the best-case scenario.’
An empathetic Natalie held Edwina’s hand during her announcement.
‘First of all, we’re really sorry you’ve had to go through this, but as you say, the treatment is kind of a good one. Explain it to us,’ Natalie said.
Edwina pulled herself back together and explained: ‘We’re so lucky. Literally I can take a daily tablet. My life expectancy doesn’t change.
Edwina’s tearful news soon attracted dozens of messages from well wishers
‘I just do need to take care of myself and rest. We are unbelievably lucky to have access to that in this country, and that that’s the kind [of cancer] I have.
‘Also, I’ve reacted really well to the medication so far which is fantastic. I have no side effects.
Matt ‘Shirvo’ Shirvington jumped in with his own words of support, saying: ‘Eddie you have, like everything you approach, you’ve taken this so positively.
‘I know it’s a strange thing to say that, but you did. You reached out to us personally. You told us this journey you’re about to go on yourself.’
Edwina’s tearful news soon attracted messages from well wishers.
‘All of the love and hugs, Eddie – we’re with you,’ wrote The Project’s Georgie Tunny.
‘You got this queen,’ commented TV presenter Jacqueline Felgate
Bartholomew seen here at the Logies Awards in Sydney last month
‘Sending so much love Eddy xxx,’ added Erin Holland.
Meanwhile, a Sunrise viewer was devastated by the news.
‘I am still crying. What a shock,’ the fan began.
‘My 17 [year old] son came running in asking why I was crying. Eddie we love you. You’ve got this and we’ve got you!
‘Sending much love to you and your immediate and extended family. What an amazing strong woman you are.
‘Always thought as such but you just reinforced why I and so many know this. Take care Eddie. You are loved.’
‘Praying for you and all your family as they support you,’ wrote another.
According to Mayo Clinic, CML is an uncommon type of cancer in the bone marrow and is very slow to progress.
Various symptoms can occur, such as bone pain, fatigue, fever, weight loss, blurry vision and loss of appetite among others.
Edwina revealed she suffered very little of these symptoms, with the main being fatigue which she put down to waking up at 3am every morning for work.
Advances in treatment have improved the prognosis of people with CML and most people diagnosed with it can achieve remission and live for many years.
The longtime Seven star shares children Molly, four, and Thomas, two, with her husband of six years Neil Varcoe.
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