11 April 2024 , 11:02
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After Adele Roberts was diagnosed with bowel cancer, she says her body 'surrendered itself' to the disease.
The Radio DJ and Dancing On Ice star details how her physical health immediately changed after she received her life-shattering diagnosis in October 2021. In her new autobiography, the 45-year-old looks back at the early signs of the illness and how the London Marathon that year will forever be etched in her mind.
Writing in her book, Personal Best: From Rock Bottom to the Top of the World, Adele says she felt like her body "just gave up and surrendered itself" once she'd been diagnosed. As the tumour and her symptoms became more prominent and unbearable, Adele writes the cancer was "killing her" and she had an "everyday battle" to carry on.
Adele was diagnosed with bowel cancer in October 2021 (adeleroberts/Instagram)
She credits her stoma bag with saving her life (Instagram)Speaking about one of the most significant days in her life, Adele recalls October 3, 2021 - the day of the London Marathon, where she was DJing, which was two days after she had been diagnosed with bowel cancer. She writes, "I'll remember that marathon forever", before detailing the difficult downward spiral of her physical health.
"My body was finding it hard by that point. It was shutting down. I remember having to wear sanitary pads because I was losing so much blood from my bottom. My tummy was bloated and my frame was small," she says, before adding: "I had no guarantees at that marathon. I didn't know if I'd ever see another one."
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Incredibly, Adele did get to see another - and run it too. In 2023, after undergoing life-saving surgery to have a stoma bag fitted - a device used to collect waste that usually passes through the colon - she ran the London Marathon in three hours 30 minutes and 22 seconds. She broke a world record and became the fastest woman to finish the race with a stoma bag.
Adele won a world record when she ran the London Marathon last year (Getty Images)At the time, Adele marked the achievement on her social media and shared how proud she was. She said on her Instagram stories: "Thank you so much to everybody who was actually in the race, there was so many lovely people on the course and also everybody who came out the cheer even though it was raining. We did it, up yours cancer."
As well as a stoma bag, Adele underwent chemotherapy and colostomy surgery as part of her cancer treatment. She kept her fans updated with her treatment, before announcing that she was cancer-free in June 2022. Taking to her Instagram page, she said: "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." She added: "I'm also in awe of anyone dealing with cancer. The courage, the strength, the determination and at times, the humour you have shown has been nothing short of superhuman."
Adele’s book, Personal Best: From Rock Bottom to the Top of the World is available to buy today.
Cancer Research UK lists the following as symptoms of bowel cancer to look out for:
- A change in your normal bowel habit - such as needing to go for a poo more often, or feeling like you haven't emptied your bowels properly.
- Bleeding from your bottom or blood in your poo.
- Losing weight when you haven't been trying to.
- A pain or lump in your tummy.
- Feeling a lot more tired than usual.
- Feeling breathless.
Their website also states: "Remember, these symptoms can be caused by other conditions, not just cancer. But if you do have any of these symptoms or anything else that is not normal for you, go to see your GP. They can examine you and do further tests if necessary."