Zumbo’s Just Desserts former contestant, Adelaide’s Zak Antoniou, reveals cancer battle

A former television cooking show contestant and Adelaide custom cake maker has revealed he is fighting bowel cancer.

A reality television personality has revealed his battle with bowel cancer.

Zak Antoniou, who was a contestant on season 2 of Zumbo’s Just Desserts and runs Adelaide business, Zácary Desserts in Forestville, shared his recent diagnosis on Instagram on Friday.

“I feel it’s important to be able to shared as you just never know if my news will bring some kind of awareness,” Antoniou, 41, wrote.

“Since the start of the year I experienced similar side effects to IBS along with slight bleeding found in my stool. Assuming I had either crohns or I was coeliac, I booked an appointment with my GP.

“Finally after several blood tests and scans all coming back clear, I booked myself in to do a colonoscopy. It was April the 7th when I found out I had bowel cancer.”

Antoniou underwent surgery to have the tumour, and part of his bowel, removed. He told The Advertiser he is expecting results as to whether all of the cancer is gone, within days.

Zak Just Desserts bowel cancer. Picture: Instagram

Zak Just Desserts bowel cancer. Picture: Instagram

He is urging people to “pay close attention to yourself”.

“I’m now sitting in the critical care unit at the hospital, reflecting what the bloody hell has happened and just how important it is to look after yourself,” he wrote.

“Don’t be afraid to visit the doctor or openly talk about any issues you might have. It could save your life.

“I’m hoping that I caught it early and that this is the end of the cancer journey for me.”