I’m A Celebrity star says ‘her body was succumbing to cancer’ on ITV series
Adele Roberts has said she thinks her body was ‘succumbing to cancer’ two years before her diagnosis, while she was filming I’m A Celebrity.
The Radio 1 DJ, 45, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2021, but previously said she thinks her cancer symptoms were there for the world to see when she appeared on the ITV show in 2019, alongside the likes of Jacqueline Jossa and Andy Whyment.
Adele, who announced she was cancer-free in June 2022, has now recalled being ‘really, really ill’ while in the jungle.
She said: ‘Looking back now, I was really, really ill. My body was succumbing to the cancer.’
Adele added to The Times that she was constantly cold and sleeping, and her partner Kate was so worried that she rung the producer from home.
The Dancing On Ice star noted her symptoms as her tumour had been growing for a decade, saying they included a ‘bloated tummy, lack of appetite, lethargy — a massive one, if you’re tired all the time and don’t know why — and a change in bowel habits.’
A year and a half after completing chemotherapy for her stage 2 cancer, Adele starred on the ITV skating competition, which was won this year by Ryan Thomas.
‘I wouldn’t have done Dancing on Ice without a stoma,’ she went on.
‘I’m not a dancer. I’m not a performer. I don’t do make-up and pretty things.
‘To have an ostomy, show what’s possible, help kids, open the conversation, lessen the stigma.’
Adele had previously said she was ‘incredibly honoured’ to be making history as the first person on Dancing On Ice with a stoma bag.
At the time of her announcement, she joked that she hoped Audrey, her stoma bag who she regularly personifies – and even has a mini version of her marathon number sign for – can skate.
This comes after Adele spoke about the symptoms she was experience on I’m A Celebrity, recalling how she was often the first campmate to call it a night.
She reflected on how campmates would laugh with her, saying: ‘You always look dead when you’re asleep.’
‘I originally thought that the first signs of my cancer started to show a couple of years after I’m a Celeb,’ she said.
‘I was wrong. It was there for us all to see in the camp, but we didn’t know.’
Donate to Dame Deborah James’ Bowelbabe fund
Dame Deborah James admirably raised money towards cancer charities after announcing that her own bowel cancer was terminal.
The beloved campaigner, known by her social media handle Bowelbabe and as a presenter of the You, Me And The Big C podcast, had been diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in 2016 and was told early on that she may not live beyond five years.
She tragically died last June at the age of 40, five years after being diagnosed with the disease.
With the support of Cancer Research UK (CRUK), Dame Deborah and her family established the Bowelbabe Fund, with all money raised to be allocated to funding clinical trials and research into personalised medicine that could result in new treatments for cancer patients, including projects in collaboration with partners such as The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) and The Royal Marsden. Donations will also go towards continued support to raise awareness of cancer, such as Bowel Cancer UK’s Never Too Young campaign.
Her Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK has now reached £11.3million through its online appeal and her family’s fundraising, while they work to continue her legacy.
You can donate via the Just Giving link here.
Adele was diagnosed with stage 2 bowel cancer in October 2021 before getting the all-clear in June 2022.
Sharing the positive health update online, Adele penned at the time: ‘The day I’ve been waiting for. Hearing the words “you’re free of cancer” absolutely took my breath away. I keep replaying it in my mind.
‘It was the most beautiful sound I think I’ve ever heard. Even though I was praying Dr Khan would say that to me I don’t think my head let me believe it until I heard it.
‘Everything we’ve been through seems to be swirling around in my body and life feels a bit surreal at the moment… BUT I AM SO GRATEFUL! I am counting my blessings.’
I’m A Celebrity is available to watch on ITVX.
Macmillan cancer support
If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with cancer, Macmillan can offer support and information.
You can contact their helpline on 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week from 8am to 8pm), use their webchat service, or visit their site for more information.
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I’m A Celebrity star Adele Roberts has reflected on her health in the jungle (Picture: James Gourley/ITV/REX ) Adele Roberts has said she thinks her body was ‘succumbing to cancer’ two years before her diagnosis, while she was filming I’m A Celebrity. The Radio 1 DJ, 45, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2021, but…