Radio personality Jackie 'O' Henderson has bravely revealed a terrifying health ordeal that she kept secret for months, after doctors initially suspected she had leukaemia.
The Shocking On-Air Revelation
During Wednesday's broadcast of the popular KIIS FM Kyle & Jackie O show, the 50-year-old mother-of-one disclosed that medical professionals had seriously considered she might be suffering from the blood cancer. The admission came as Jackie explained she was scheduled for a colonoscopy the following day.
When her co-host Kyle Sandilands questioned why she needed the procedure, Jackie confessed it was 'a triple measure' to definitively rule out disease. 'I had blood tests done about eight months ago, and these things came up on the blood test where they actually thought I had a blood cancer – leukaemia,' she revealed live on air.
The Terrifying Medical Journey
A stunned Kyle responded that this was the first he'd heard of her health crisis, prompting Jackie to admit she had been too 'nervous' to share the news earlier. Her concern was well-founded, as doctors had been sufficiently convinced of the potential diagnosis to order invasive testing.
'I had to do a bone marrow biopsy because they were really quite sure that I had it,' Jackie explained to listeners. The procedure involves extracting sample bone marrow, typically from the hip bone, to test for cancer and other blood disorders.
Fortunately, the broadcaster received welcome news when her results came back clear, though medical professionals remained puzzled by her elevated white blood cell counts. 'I got my bone marrow and it came back all clear and she said: 'I actually don't know. I've never seen this before, where someone has these high white cell counts,'' Jackie recounted of her haematologist's response.
Ongoing Health Concerns and Previous Scares
Seeking final confirmation, Kyle asked directly: 'So you don't have cancer?' to which Jackie replied with relief: 'No I don't. That was a while ago.' She added that the upcoming colonoscopy represented additional precautionary measures for her peace of mind.
Jackie explained that she decided to discuss her experience publicly due to anxiety about her colonoscopy preparation, describing warnings she'd received about the 'pretty horrific' fasting and cleansing process involved. Kyle, describing himself as a 'colonoscopy veteran,' offered vivid – and graphic – descriptions of what she could expect.
This isn't the first health challenge the radio star has faced publicly. In October last year, Jackie revealed she had battled substance dependence for years. She was also rushed to hospital in 2023 with symptoms mimicking a heart attack, which turned out to be an infection.
Additionally, in August 2023, Jackie experienced another cancer scare when she discovered a lump in her breast while preparing for a photo shoot. Fortunately, subsequent mammogram results provided another 'all clear' from doctors, continuing her pattern of health anxieties with positive outcomes.
