Edwina Bartholomew has revealed the reason she decided to go public with her cancer diagnosis earlier this year.
The Sunrise star, 41, revealed on the breakfast show in September that she had been diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia – a form of blood and bone marrow cancer.
The South Australian-born presenter recently told Stellar Magazine Something to talk about podcast the reason why she decided to make such a public announcement.
“The reason I wanted to talk about it so publicly was because I just felt like it could really help people because I had no symptoms or any indication that I was sick,” Edwina began.
She added that by coming out, she hoped to inspire other people to undergo a health check-up, to ensure that their illness was properly diagnosed and treated on time.
“I really thought it could help people go to the doctor and get a health check.”
Edwina Bartholomew (pictured) has revealed the shocking reason she decided to announce her cancer diagnosis live on air earlier this year
The presenter then said that several people contacted her to tell her that she inspired them to go to the doctor, who diagnosed a disease in time.
“I’m going to read a text message I received from a friend of mine this week. She said: “I wanted to wait until I got the results to tell you. Thanks to you I went and had every overdue scan, screening and test”
“Everything was fine except the breast. They found a lump on my chest wall that was impossible to feel but lit up like a balloon on the mammogram.
“Thanks to you I was called to the nurse’s office, not the oncologist. I am one of the lucky ones, it was just a cyst. Thanks to you I am very grateful that I am well and relieved and I hope you ‘feel me today as good as I am.’
Edwina broke down as she said it was an “incredible” feeling to have inspired several people to see a healthcare specialist to ensure they had a clean bill of health.
Elsewhere, Edwina admitted that getting cancer may ultimately be the “best thing that ever happened to her,” although it’s still “too early” to say for sure.
She said the horror news she received at her doctor’s office has brought nothing but “love” into her life since.
“I think it’s too early to say this is the best thing that ever happened to me because we’ll see how it turns out,” she said. Stellar magazine.
The Sunrise star, 41, revealed on the breakfast show in September that she had been diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia – a form of blood and bone marrow cancer.
“But the most powerful thing that’s happened this year is finding out. I felt the extraordinary power of love from everyone, everyone I have ever met.
The TV personality went on to say that her “phone absolutely lit up” when she was contacted by ex-boyfriends, real estate agents and her mortgage broker after revealing her diagnosis.
‘I really felt what it was like to be loved. And I learned what it is to love. So deep. And to realize what is so important to me. I would never give that back,” she added.
Edwina also revealed she has kept her cancer diagnosis a secret from her children Molly, four, and Tom, two.
The presenter, who shares her children with husband Neil Varcoe, said she believes her children are simply too young to understand.
Edwina was first diagnosed in July and has since quit her work on popular Channel Seven breakfast show Sunrise to focus on her health.
In September, Edwina revealed live on air that she had been diagnosed with cancer in a tearful recording.
‘I have been diagnosed with cancer. That’s a shock and hard to say,” she told viewers sadly.
‘It’s a very good strain. It is called chronic myelogenous leukemia. It can be treated with a daily tablet. If I can take care of myself, I’ll be fine,” she continued.