Edwina Bartholomew’s cancer diagnosis: ‘It’s the luckiest, unlucky thing to ever happen to me’

Much-loved Sunrise presenter Edwina Bartholomew was hugged by co-host Natalie Barr and her Channel 7 colleagues as she shared her emotional cancer diagnosis live on-air on Friday.

Much-loved Sunrise presenter Edwina Bartholomew was hugged by co-host Natalie Barr and her Channel 7 colleagues as she shared her emotional cancer diagnosis live on-air on Friday.

Bartholomew revealed she had been diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia and will be reducing her work to a few days a week, as her Channel 7 colleagues offered heartfelt support.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph moments after making the announcement, Bartholomew said: “It feels like the luckiest unlucky thing to ever happen to me”.

Bartholomew, holding back tears, broke the news on Channel 7 just after 8.15am.

“I have personal news this morning. It’s not great news….. I have been diagnosed with cancer.

“That’s a shock to say and hard to say,” she said on Sunrise.

“It is a really good kind. It is called chronic Myeloid Leukaemia. It can be treated with a daily tablet. If I can take care of myself I will be completely fine. I feel very, very lucky.”

In the heartfelt moment, Bartholomew opened up about her personal health journey and the reasons she felt it important to share this experience with her audience. Reflecting on the connection she’s had with her viewers over the years.

Nat Barr hugs Edwina Bartholomew after her colleague revealed her cancer disagnosis.

Edwina Bartholomew has revealed live on television that she has been diagnosed with cancer.

“I wanted to share this with you for a couple 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. It felt right to share this with you too.

“Many of you have been in similar situations or much, much worse and come out the other side stronger... And more resilient. That’s exactly what I plan to do. I thought I could keep it together. I will.”

She went on to emphasise the importance of prioritising health, particularly after turning 40, and how routine checks led to the discovery of an unexpected issue.

She broke the news on live TV surrounded by her colleagues.

“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. That came back all clear. I even had an eye check. That’s fine. But my doctor sent me to get routine blood tests at the same time. One of those tests came back with levels out of whack. Please, particularly for mums who always take care of everyone else, please take care of yourself too. And just check in with your doctor. I found out in July. About a month and a half ago.”

Pointing to the support she’s received from her colleagues, she expressed gratitude for the care and kindness shown to her over the past month.

“I only told a few people here at work. I wanted to thank a few of them. All of you guys at the desk, particularly Nat, for constantly checking in and all the meals as well. Thank you for that.”

Finally, Edwina shared her plans for taking time off to focus on her health while maintaining a positive outlook.

Her colleague and close friend Nat Barr consoled her after the announcement.

“I will be taking time off in September. And then just return to a few days a week here at Sunrise. 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. There you go.”

Sunrise co-host and close friend Nat Barr consoled Bartholomew, reassuring that the team is “right behind her”.

Sunrise presenter Edwina Bartholomew was supported by her colleagues on Friday morning.

“Eddy, you have, like everything that you approach, you have taken this so positively. 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 were about to go on yourself. The positivity that you bring, along with it is the best cure you’re going to get,” she said.

“You do it in such an amazing way. So, we’re right behind you. We always will be. I know that so many of our viewers are right behind you.”

In April, it was revealed that Bartholomew’s hotel renovation was six months behind schedule and was taking a toll on her family.

“We have had bronchitis, pneumonia and gastro on top of the usual planning delays, it hasn’t been pretty”, Edwina told realcommercial.com.au.

“I’m joking that’s it’s a ’s***-show’ because we have been talking a lot about effluent removal and the placement of the new septic. We are only now just getting into the fun stuff like paint colours.”

Edwina and her husband, Neil sold their house in Sydney a year ago this month to buy a dilapidated guest house in Carcoar in country NSW.

Originally published as Edwina Bartholomew’s cancer diagnosis: ‘It’s the luckiest, unlucky thing to ever happen to me’