Edwina Bartholomew has given an emotional update on her life-changing battle with cancer and opened up about her career plans.
The Sunrise star, 41, revealed she had been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), a type of blood and bone marrow cancer, live in September.
Edwina was first diagnosed in July and has since reduced her work on the popular Channel Seven breakfast show to focus on her health.
He has mostly stayed out of the spotlight in recent months, but has now given an update on his health and revealed whether he will return to his TV job full-time.
talking to StellarOn the Something To Talk About podcast, Edwina said it still comes as a “shock” to say she has leukemia after months of processing the difficult diagnosis.
She said she feels very lucky that they caught the cancer early and assured her fans that she is doing “very well” and has had “fantastic” test results so far.
Edwina Bartholomew (pictured) gave an emotional update on her life-changing battle with cancer and opened up about her career plans.
The television presenter explained that she takes her medication twice a day, at 3 in the morning and at 8 p.m., and will have to continue doing so at least for the next few years.
“My white blood cell count is almost back to normal and there is another indicator that also looks very good,” he shared.
‘Perspective and mindset have been a big part of the process from the beginning. People can live with this all their lives and because I caught it so early, I could get rid of it in a few years.’
Edwina said the diagnosis prompted her to start taking care of her health and she has now eliminated gluten, coffee, alcohol and sugar from her diet and exercised more.
She excitedly admitted that while she often forgets she has cancer, sometimes it “hits her” in the face as she detailed a recent scare when she had pneumonia.
‘Most days I forget I have cancer and then some days it really hits you in the face. I recently had pneumonia and normally I don’t get sick…she says she has cancer,” Edwina shared.
I was wiped out for days. I think up until that point I had been very focused on life continuing as normal and this wasn’t going to change me.
“And then I realized that it had innately changed me, both physically and mentally, and that was a real adjustment.” “I had to allow myself to be really sad about it for a while.”
The Sunrise star, 41, revealed she had been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), a type of blood and bone marrow cancer, live in September.
Edwina said she is now focusing her attention on being present with her husband Neil Varcoe and their two young children – daughter Molly, four, and son Tom, two.
She admitted that her diagnosis made her reconsider the way she thinks about life and realize she can’t keep waking up at 3am for her morning gig as host of Sunrise.
‘The go, go, go 24/7 approach I’ve had to life for the last 40 years had to change. “This has definitely been a big lesson for me: life can’t go on like this,” he continued.
‘I had to say to work, ‘Now I can’t go back to work five days a week at 3am, that’s not something I can do.’ You have to say Channel Seven has been phenomenal about that.’
Edwina’s comments about scaling back her TV work come after she was rumored to be leaving her long-held role on breakfast show Seven.
He is said to plan to move to the network’s Sydney newsroom when veteran newsreader Ann Sanders, 64, announces her retirement, according to news.com.au.
The proposed measure is said to make things easier for Edwina, who would no longer have to get up at 3 a.m. to get ready for work amid her health problems.
In September, Edwina revealed live that she had been diagnosed with cancer in a tearful admission.
Amid rumors that she will be taking on a new role in the Seven newsroom, Edwina told how she can no longer start at 3am at Sunrise and is focusing on her family – husband Neil Varcoe and children Molly, four years old, and Tom, two.
‘I have been diagnosed with cancer. “It’s a shock and it’s hard to say,” he sadly told viewers.
‘He’s a really good guy. It’s called chronic myeloid leukemia. It can be treated with a daily pill. If I can take care of myself, I’ll be completely fine.’
The veteran TV star began to cry before telling the audience: “I thought I could keep calm.”
Edwina went on to reveal that her co-star Natalie Barr had her to thank for being diagnosed as quickly as she had been.
Nat had her own cancer scare in June, after a routine skin exam discovered skin cancer on her nose, convincing Edwina to undergo a full medical examination with her own doctors.
‘I had a mammogram after I had some lumps. That all came out clear. I even had an eye exam,” he explained.
‘Alright. But my doctor sent me for routine blood tests at the same time, one of those tests came back with out-of-control levels.
‘I feel lucky and 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 moments, for engagements, weddings and babies, for all of us.’
Edwina said the diagnosis prompted her to start taking care of her health and she has now eliminated gluten, coffee, alcohol and sugar from her diet and exercised more.
‘Many of you have been in similar or worse situations and come out the other side stronger… and more resilient. “That’s exactly what I plan to do,” he added.
Edwina said the other reason she wanted to share her news was to encourage others to prioritize their health too.
‘Please, especially for the moms who always take care of others, take care of yourselves. And just check with your doctor,’ he said.
The Seven star found out about her shock diagnosis in July and kept it a secret from the public, telling only a few friends at work.
According to the Mayo Clinic, CML is a rare type of bone marrow cancer and progresses very slowly.
Advances in treatment have improved the prognosis for people with chronic myeloid leukemia, and most people diagnosed are able to achieve remission and live many years.