Sunrise star Edwina Bartholomew reveals cancer diagnosis live on air

Sunrise star Edwina Bartholomew has broken down in tears as she revealed live on air that she has been diagnosed with cancer. The newsreader told viewers that it was "a shock to say" but remained very positive that she found it early and that it's treatable.

Edwina revealed she "had no symptoms" or "warning signs" with the cancer she has, Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), and doctors only found it because she decided to have a routine health check when she turned 40. She revealed that she feels very "grateful" to know her life expectancy won't change and that she can treat it with a daily tablet.

Edwina Bartholomew shares 'personal news'

"I have some personal news this morning," Edwina said. "It's not great news, not a panda story to finish the bulletin. I have been diagnosed with cancer. That's a shock to say and hard to say, but it's a really good kind. It's called chronic myeloid leukemia, so it can be treated with a daily tablet. If I take care of myself, I will be completely, absolutely fine. So I feel very, very lucky."

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She continued, "I 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 times, for the engagements and the weddings and the babies, for all of us. So it felt right to share this with you too, and I know many of you have been in similar situations or much, much worse, and come out the other side of it stronger and more resilient. And that's exactly what I plan to do. I thought I could keep it together, and I will."

"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 had her scare, I had a mammogram after I had a few lumps, and that came back all clear. I even had an eye check, and that's fine, but my doctor sent me to get some routine blood tests at the same time, 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."

Edwina thanked her Sunrise team for shuffling around their own lives to help her take care of herself and her family.

'Feel really positive'

Through her tears, she added, "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."

Nat Barr told Edwina that she and the Sunrise team are "really sorry" that she has to go through this, asking the newsreader to explain the treatment.

"We're so lucky, so literally, I can take a daily tablet. My life expectancy doesn't change. I just do need to take care of myself and rest, so we're unbelievably lucky to firstly, have access to that in this country and that that is, you know, the kind that I have. And also I've reacted really well to the medication so far, which is fantastic, and they've had no side effects."

She added, "And I also had no symptoms, which is why I wanted to give that health warning at all. I didn't have anything. I mean, I was tired, but hey, you know, get up at 3am, so no symptoms at all, no warning signs. And that's really common with this kind of kind of cancer, chronic myeloid leukemia. You often don't have symptoms very slow growing. But if I hadn't prioritised my health and had that check, I could be dealing with a really different situation.

"So yeah, I think it's just a lot to wrap your head around, because it sounds like a scary word, but you know, Beretts, for Tour de Cure, you're working in this space all the time," Edwina said, referencing Mark Beretta's work with the cancer research fundraiser "You know, just so many amazing breakthroughs, and just, yeah, everything crossed, and just so incredibly grateful that this is the outcome."

Matt 'Shirvo' Shirvington told Edwina, "Eddie, you have, like everything that you approach, you've taken this so positively. And I know it's such a strange thing to say that, but you did. You reached out to us personally, you told us this journey that you're about to go on yourself, and the positivity that you bring along with it is the best cure you're going to get. Because you do it in such an amazing way. So we're right behind you, and we always will be, and I know that so many of our viewers as well are right behind you."

The Sunrise team then embraced Eddie into an emotional big group hug.

Sunrise viewers share support for Edwina

Sunrise viewers and Edwina's friends were quick to share their support, with Seven presenter Matt Doran writing, "You are just every variety of incredible."

"You got this [Edwina] 🙌🙌🙌 so proud of you and happy you got it early - lots of love and strength to you and your family," Angela Cox added.

"Whatever you need…we’ve got you ❤️ lots of love x," The Morning Show's Kylie Gillies said.

"All of the love and hugs, Eddie - we’re with you," Georgie Tunny said.

"Eddy we love you, thinking of you always and your beautiful family! All the best with your health battle and sending hugs and prayers to you," one viewer shared.

"Sending you much love and strength Eddie," another said. "Thank you for sharing and reminding all of us mums to put ourselves first sometimes and prioritise our own health."

"Sending lots of love and positivity to you Eddy," a third wrote.

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