The bowel cancer symptoms Channel 4 First Dates star Merlin ignored before diagnosis
dailyrecord.co.ukHe's known as the chatty and charming bartender serving drinks to singletons on Channel 4's hit show First Dates.But few viewers would be aware that Merlin Griffiths was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer two years ago and has undergone months of intensive treatments since.The TV star 48-year old, who owns The Priory Tavern in London used on the Channel 4 dating show, has used his platform to raise awareness of bowel cancer symptoms, and said his abnormal cells could've been detected earlier had he not delayed a visit to his GP.Merlin's early symptoms included a pain in his abdomen and changes to his bowel movements, but he delayed seeing a doctor for months. "It was that typical male reticence thing of going, 'Oh, I'm fine, it's nothing really.
I'll be alright'," he said at the time.In an interview with the Express this week, Merlin spoke about his hesitance to book a doctor's appointment at the very beginning. "There is still a certain amount of classic British reserve in the way that we deal with a lot of health issues," he said. "And this one is particularly – it is in that area, isn't it?
Because it's bowel cancer and in my case it was rectal cancer."Merlin has been open about his journey and has encouraged people to normalise talking about poo since his diagnosis in September 2021. "So yeah, I've got to talk about a***s.
I've got to talk about poo. I've got to talk about bowel habits, so on and so forth. You have to normalise this," he added.Bowel cancer, sometimes referred to as colorectal cancer, affects a person's large bowel.
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