Edwina Bartholomew reveals cancer diagnosis on Sunrise – Sunrise newsreader Edwina Bartholomew shared the news with Channel 7 viewers this morning that she has been diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia and will be scaling back her work commitments to a few days a week.
Bartholomew was quick to reassure viewers and her colleagues that she is feeling “really positive about it”, that it “genuinely is the luckiest unlucky thing to ever happen to me”.
The treatment plan is a daily tablet and, as Bartholomew explained:
“if I take care of myself, I will be completely fine.”
“I’m just beyond grateful I found it, and beyond grateful it’s the best-case scenario.”
It was by “sheer luck” that Bartholomew stumbled upon her diagnosis, she scheduled a long-overdue, all-over health check when she turned 40. This was another reason Bartholomew felt compelled to share her health diagnosis with viewers:
“Please, particularly for mums who always take care of everyone else, please take care of yourself too… and just check in with your doctor,”
– she urged.
Transcript
I have some news. And it’s not great news… not a panda story to finish the bulletin.
I have cancer.
It’s a good kind… if that actually is possible.
It’s called Chronic myeloid leukemia.
It can be treated with a daily tablet and if I take care of myself, I will be completely fine.
I feel very, very lucky and I wanted to share this with you for a couple 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.
Secondly, the reason I’m telling you is because after I turned 40 I made the decision to prioritise my health.
I got a skin check after Nat (Barr) had her scare. I had a mammogram after I had a few lumps. That came back all clear. I even had an eye check. That was fine. But my doctor sent me to get routine blood tests at the same time. One of those tests came back with levels out of whack.
Please, particularly for mums who always take care of everyone else, please take care of yourself too. And just check in with your doctor.
I found out in July, about a month and a half ago. I only told a few people here at work. I wanted to thank a few of them. All of you guys at the desk, particularly Nat, for constantly checking in and all the meals as well. Thank you for that.
To Mon (Monique Wright) and Sally (Bowrey) who shuffle around their family commitments so I could take care of mine.
And our bosses… Sarah, Gemma and Anthony who have been so understanding.
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I will be taking time off in September and then just return to a few days a week here at Sunrise.
Despite appearances, I feel really positive about it.
It genuinely is the luckiest unlucky thing to ever happen to me.
I’m just beyond grateful I found it, and beyond grateful it’s the best-case scenario.
Media Release – Seven
LINK HERE to Bartholomew’s important message for viewers.
LINK HERE to article Bartholomew has written.
Link to 7plus HERE
TV Central Seven content HERE
Edwina Bartholomew reveals cancer diagnosis on Sunrise
