Southport radio presenter Adele Roberts is undergoing surgery for bowel cancer today, saying that “the hardest thing was telling my family. It broke my heart.”
The BBC Radio 1 presenter was diagnosed with cancer at the start of October.
An operation is taking place today to remove a tumour, but the 42-year-old is staying positive.
Adele said: “So far the outlook is positive and I feel so lucky I can be treated. It’s just the start of my journey but I’m going to give it everything.”
The former Big Brother star missed both her radio shows this weekend.
She spoke about her cancer diagnosis in an Instagram post, saying: “Ok, there’s no easy way to do this and it feels weird, especially posting on social media (I’m going full Black Mirror) but I’m hoping it’ll reach anyone who might benefit from seeing it or reading it.
“For a while now I’ve been struggling with my digestion. 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.
“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. 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.
“The NHS have been INCREDIBLE. They’re heroes. 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. So far the outlook is positive and I feel so lucky that I can be treated. It’s just the start of my journey but I’m going to give it everything I’ve got.
“Sending everyone so much love and positivity for the week ahead. THANK YOU to my family words cannot describe how much you have helped me through these last few weeks. You saved me. You are my angels and I shall be thinking of you tomorrow. I can’t wait to wake up and see your beautiful faces (on FaceTime if I can compose myself enough to work my phone). If not your voices to hear you will be everything. That’s all I’m wishing for.”
Her girlfriend, Kate Holderness, also wrote an emotional post,saying: “It’s the most horrible feeling desperately wanting her to get in that hospital ASAP but desperately not wanting to be without her.”
She said it had been hard to get her head around how “unfair” the diagnosis was as Roberts did “all the things they say help you prevent cancer” and didn’t do the things that were supposed to put you at higher risk.
“But I now understand it can happen to anyone. Cancer’s never fair is it?”
A Radio 1 statement said: “Our love and support is with Adele, Kate and their families at this very difficult time.
“Everyone at Radio 1, along with millions of listeners, wishes her a speedy recovery and we look forward to welcoming Adele back on air soon.”
Singer Jessie Ware and actress Suranne Jones were among those to send their support to Roberts on Instagram, along with some of her BBC colleagues.
Radio presenter Scott Mills wrote: “We all love you Adele. It’s amazing you posted this. You’re awesome and you’ve got this.”
Radio 2 broadcaster Sara Cox said Roberts was “brilliant and brave to share this to help people”, adding that she was sending her “a thousand gentle hugs”.
Adele Roberts rose to fame after appearing on the third series of Channel 4’s Big Brother series in 2002.
She joined the BBC in 2012 as part of the Radio 1Xtra team, before moving to Radio 1 in 2015 to host the Early Breakfast Show. She took over the Weekend Breakfast programme earlier this year. She also appeared on ITV’s I’m a Celebrity in 2019.
Earlier this month she beamed “Southport, I hope I did you proud tonight!” after she was awarded the Broadcast Prize at this year’s Attitude Awards.
The awards are to benefit the Attitude Magazine Foundation, which raises money for LGBT causes.
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