Edwina Bartholomew has opened up about why she kept her cancer diagnosis a secret from her children.
The Sunrise star revealed she was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) – a form of blood and bone marrow cancer – live on air in September.
The 41-year-old told me Stellar magazine This weekend she finds her children Molly, four, and Tom, two, who she shares with husband Neil Varcoe, are simply too young to understand.
‘My children are two and four, I’ve never had to have a conversation with them, which is a huge relief. For them there is no physical difference,” she says.
Edwina broke the news to her parents earlier this year and says her father’s emotional response broke her heart.
“It was probably harder to see Dad find out than it was to see Mom, because I think fathers tend to be quite stoic, right? It was really emotional,” she said.
Edwina Bartholomew has opened up about why she kept her cancer diagnosis a secret from her children. Pictured in this week’s issue of Stellar Magazine
‘I was able to explain to mum and dad the details and the practicalities of it, what would happen and the treatment – and that I had to have a biopsy to confirm it.’
She continued, “And they’re quite pragmatic people. It was a very emotional discussion, but they could also see that this was not the end of the world and that I would be okay.”
Edwina was first diagnosed in July and has since retired from her work with the popular population Channel seven breakfast program to focus on her health.
She has largely stayed out of the spotlight in recent months, but has now provided an update on her health and revealed whether she will return to her full-time TV work.
Speak with Stellar‘s Something To Talk About podcast, Edwina said she still finds it a “shock” to say she has leukemia after months of dealing with the difficult diagnosis.
She said she feels extremely lucky because they caught the cancer early, assuring fans that she is doing “really well” and has had “fantastic” test results so far.
Edwina said the diagnosis prompted her to start taking care of her health and she has now cut gluten, coffee, alcohol and sugar from her diet and increased exercise.
She admitted that her diagnosis has made her rethink her outlook on life and realize she can’t stay awake at 3am for her early morning performance on Sunrise.
The 41-year-old told Stellar Magazine this weekend that she believes her children Molly, four, and Tom, two, who she shares with husband Neil Varcoe, are simply too young to understand. All depicted
‘The 24/7 go, go, go approach I had in my life for the past forty years had to change. “This has definitely been a big message to me that life can’t go on like this,” she continued.
“I had to say to my work, ‘I can’t go back to work at three in the morning five days a week now, that’s not something I can do’ – to their credit, Channel Seven has been phenomenal on that. ‘
Edwina’s comments about cutting back on her TV work come after rumors emerged that she would be leaving her long-held role on the Seven Breakfast show.
She is said to be planning to move to the network’s newsroom in Sydney when veteran newsreader Ann Sanders, 64, announces her retirement. news.com.au.
The proposed move would make things easier for Edwina, who no longer has to wake up at 3am to get ready for work amid her health problems.
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.”
The Sunrise star, 41, revealed she had been diagnosed live with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) – a form of blood and bone marrow cancer – in September.
The veteran TV star then broke down in tears before telling the audience: “I thought I could keep it together.”
Edwina went on to reveal that her co-star Natalie Barr was to thank for being diagnosed as quickly as she was.
Nat had her own cancer scare in June after a routine skin check revealed skin cancer on her nose, convincing Edwina to have a full health check with her own doctors.
‘I had a mammogram after I had a few lumps. That came back completely clear. I even had an eye check,” she explained.
‘That’s fine. But at the same time my doctor sent me for routine blood tests, one of which came back with abnormal readings.
“I’m feeling happy and I wanted to share this with you for a few reasons.” First of all, because everyone here at home and here has experienced all those wonderful times, before the engagements, the weddings and the babies, for all of us.’
“Many of you have been in similar situations or worse and come out stronger… and more resilient. That’s exactly what I plan to do,” she added.
Edwina said the other reason she wanted to share her news was to encourage others to also prioritize their health.
“Please, especially for mothers who always take care of everyone, please take care of yourself. And just check with your doctor,” she said.
The Seven star found out about her shock diagnosis in July and kept it a secret from the public, only telling a few friends at work.
According to Mayo Clinic, CML is an uncommon form of cancer in the bone marrow and develops very slowly.
Advances in treatment have improved the prognosis of people with CML and most people diagnosed with CML can achieve remission and live for many years.
Read more in Stellar Magazine