Edwina Bartholomew has given an emotional update on her 'life-changing' cancer battle and spoke about her career plans.
The Sunrise star, 41, revealed that she had been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) - a type of blood and bone marrow cancer - live on air in September. Edwina was first diagnosed in July and has since cut down on her work with the popular Channel Seven breakfast program to focus on her health.
She has mostly remained out of the spotlight in recent months, but has now given an update on her health and revealed whether she will be returning to her fulltime TV work.
"I still find it a 'shock' to say I have leukaemia after months of processing the difficult diagnosis," Edwina said during Stellar's Something To Talk About podcast.
She expressed feeling extremely lucky because they caught the cancer early as she reassured her fans that she is doing 'really well' and has had 'fantastic' test results so far.
The TV presenter explained that she takes her medication twice a day, at 3am and 8pm, and will have to continue for at least the next few years. "My white blood cell count is almost back to normal, and there's another indicator that's looking really good as well," she shared.
"Perspective and mindset have been a big part of the process from the get-go. People can live with this their entire life and because I caught it so early, I could be rid of it in a few years."
Edwina said the diagnosis prompted lifestyle changes including cutting out gluten, coffee, alcohol, sugar from her diet, along with increased exercise. She emotionally admitted that while she often forgets she has cancer, it sometimes hits hard when facing additional health challenges like pneumonia.
"Most days I forget I have cancer...then some days it really smacks you in the face," Edwina shared. "I recently had pneumonia - I was wiped out for days."
"Until that point I'd been really hyper-focused on life continuing as normal...and then I realised it has changed me innately." She acknowledged needing time to process these changes both physically and mentally.
Edwina now focuses more attention on being present with husband Neil Varcoe and their two young children - daughter Molly, four, and son Tom, two. Her diagnosis reshaped priorities away from demanding schedules like waking up at 3am for Sunrise hosting duties.
"The 24/7 go-go-go approach I've had for past 40 years needed shifting," Edwina stated. "I've told work it's not possible anymore; Channel Seven's been phenomenal about adjusting my role."
What is Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia?
- CML affects blood/bone marrow by producing too many granulocytes which crowd normal cells
- Affects approximately 330 Australians annually; more common over age 40
- Treatment advances allow most patients remission potential through drug therapy using TKIs