Edwina Bartholomew has provided a fresh health update regarding her cancer diagnosis. The 42-year-old Sunrise presenter was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), a type of blood and bone marrow cancer, in 2024. In the latest issue of TV Week, the television veteran expressed her gratitude for how well she has responded to treatment.
Remarkable Response to Treatment
“I just can’t believe how lucky I’ve been, just unbelievably lucky,” Bartholomew told the publication. “I responded straightaway to the medication. I haven’t had any side effects. I take it daily, and I will continue to do so for many years.”
She opened up about her diagnosis at Marie Claire’s International Women’s Day luncheon in Sydney, where she reflected on the experience. “I was fortunate that I had a month where I knew about it before I told everyone. I had this experience without having to go through the trauma of chemotherapy,” she shared. “[The cancer] was a gift, because it put things into perspective... I didn’t have to go through a really intense experience of being ‘in’ cancer and absorbed by it.”
Maintaining Normalcy
Bartholomew emphasized her gratitude that her symptoms have been manageable, allowing her to continue most daily activities. “I had a meeting with my specialist this week and I forgot to go get my blood test. So, it is not front of mind for me,” she said. “I am so conscious of what a gift that is, that I have been able to continue on semi–normal... I haven’t had to tell my young kids, because I still look the same. It’s been a real re–think in slowing myself down.”
Her diagnosis is described as a mild form of leukaemia, often manageable without chemotherapy. Bartholomew shares two young children, Molly and Tom, with her husband Neil Varcoe.
Public Revelation
Bartholomew first revealed her cancer diagnosis live on Sunrise in September 2024. “I have been diagnosed with cancer. That’s a shock and hard to say,” she told viewers. “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.” The veteran star became emotional, admitting, “I thought I could keep it together.” She credited co-star Natalie Barr for helping her get diagnosed quickly.
According to the Mayo Clinic, CML is an uncommon cancer of the bone marrow that progresses slowly. Advances in treatment have significantly improved prognosis, with most patients achieving remission and living for many years.
