Adele Roberts, 42, has shared she will undergo surgery on Monday to have her tumour removed and will be examined to see if she needs any more treatment. The former I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! contestant posted the news of her bowel cancer diagnosis on Instagram and explained she decided to detail her illness in a bid to help others.
“For a while now I’ve been struggling with my digestion,” she wrote.
“Thanks to a conversation I had with my Dad a few years back I went to my GP for a check-up. I’ll be honest, I was embarrassed but I also knew that it could be something serious.
“So I went just in case. I didn’t think anything of it at first and just assumed it might be food sensitivity. After a few phone calls, I was sent for some examinations and checks. I was then diagnosed with bowel cancer. This was at the start of the month.”
Adele continued: “It’s all happened so quickly and I’m so sorry to post something like this on here but I hope it helps anyone who might be worrying or suffering in silence. PLEASE make sure you get checked out if you have ANY concerns.”
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“The sooner you’re able to see your GP or talk to someone the sooner you can get help. If I hadn’t I might not be so lucky. As I’ve learned over the last few weeks, there’s no ‘normal’ with cancer.
“Sadly it can affect anyone, at any age, anytime. It doesn’t discriminate. Early detection can save your life.” (sic)
Adele heaped praise on the “incredible” NHS before revealing details of her treatment.
“I’m going to have surgery tomorrow to remove the tumour and then see if I need any more treatment or if the cancer has spread,” she said.
A number of celebrities voiced sent their well-wishes to Adele, including DJ Clara Amfo, who commented “Love you so much.”
The official BBC Radio 1 Instagram account penned: “Sending all our love and support to you, Kate and your families. Everyone at Radio 1 – along with all our listeners – is wishing you a speedy recovery and we can’t wait to welcome you back on air soon.”
Adele participated in the 19th series of I’m A Celebrity in 2019. She was the first campmate to be eliminated, with former EastEnders star Jacqueline Jossa going on to win the show.
One year later, in January 2020, she won the sixth season of Celebrity Coach Trip on E4 alongside her girlfriend, Kate Holderness.
Adele first found fame when she took part in the third series of Big Brother in 2002 alongside fellow housemates Jade Goody, Alison Hammond and winner Kate Lawler.
The presenter, from Southport, Merseyside, finished in seventh place after lasting 43 days in the house.
She spoke about being bisexual on the series, though she had not revealed her sexuality to her parents at the time.
Taking part in a panel hosted by charity RU Coming Out, she explained: ‘I had gone to university and had a girlfriend and everyone was cool about it but I hadn’t had that talk with my mum and dad.
