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Sunrise presenter diagnosed with leukaemia
By Garry Maddox
Sunrise presenter Edwina Bartholomew has announced on air that she has been diagnosed with cancer.
Flagging that she had personal news, the Channel Seven personality said she was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia in July.
“That’s a shock to say and hard to say,” an emotional Bartholomew said on Friday.
“It can be treated with a daily tablet. If I can take care of myself I will be completely absolutely fine. I feel very, very lucky.”
Bartholomew said she would be taking time off this month and return to working a few days a week at Sunrise.
Chronic myeloid leukaemia is a rare cancer of the blood and bone marrow. According to the Leukaemia Foundation, about 330 people are diagnosed with it in Australia every year. Most patients have “an excellent response” to treatment.
Edwina Bartholomew (left) with Sunrise colleague Natalie Barr on Friday. Credit: Channel Seven
Bartholomew said she had decided to prioritise her health when she turned 40 last year and had a skin check, mammogram and an eye test, which all came back clear.
“But my doctor sent me to get routine blood tests at the same time,” she said. “And one of those tests came back with some levels out of whack.
“So please, particularly for mums who always take care of everyone else, please take care of yourself too. And just check in with your doctor ...
“Many of you have been in similar situations or much, much worse and come out the other side stronger and more resilient and that’s exactly what I plan to do.”
Bartholomew described the diagnosis as “the luckiest unlucky thing to ever happen” to her.
“I’m beyond grateful I found it and beyond grateful it’s the best-case scenario,” she said.
In an article for the 7News website, Bartholomew wrote that she had taken her doctor’s advice and had a second blood test on Monday, July 29.
“The doctor called that night to check if I was OK,” she wrote. “I said I had a little cold but was otherwise fine.
“She suggested I come in the next day when all my results were back. It was a sleepless night, and I was a little teary in the makeup chair on Tuesday and stressed during Sunrise.
“Later that morning, the doctor called to say I should bring someone with me to the appointment. Not a good sign. By Thursday, I was having a bone marrow biopsy and by Saturday I had started treatment.”
Bartholomew wrote she now planned to spend time with her husband “and wonderful little kids, Molly and Tom, genuinely going for bike rides, putting my phone away and taking some ‘me’ time instead of just pretending”.
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