Adele Roberts had bowel cancer symptoms during I'm a Celeb stint but put them down to 'diet'

Adele Roberts has opened up about the bowel cancer symptoms she experienced while taking part in ITV show I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! The Radio 1 presenter was losing weight during her stint in the jungle, but she put this down to the restrictive diet.

Appearing on Good Morning Britain (GMB) she said that despite the world watching her each day, she nor anyone else picked up on the signs in 2019. Adele chatted to fellow campmate Kate Garraway as she highlighted the common symptoms of bowel cancer after she was diagnosed in 2021.

Kate said she and their fellow camp mates were worried about how much weight Adele was losing, but put it down to the show's restrictive diet. Adele replied: "I didn't realise I had bowel cancer and that's why I make it my mission now to talk about it as much as possible because I was there in plain sight, on TV and so many people were watching and didn't pick up on the symptoms".

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Adele, 45, "lost weight rapidly" and had a "loss of appetite." She added that she was the only one in the jungle who "didn't want to eat the food, I wasn't hungry".

The presenter also had a "bloated tummy". Adele said: "It wasn't until I came out the jungle and shortly afterwards that I started noticing blood when I went to the toilet - and that was the giveaway really. That's when I called the doctor."

Adele has has a stoma post-surgery, and has now been cancer-free for two years. According to Macmillan Cancer Support: "A stoma is an opening that is made through the tummy (abdominal) wall. It connects the bowel to the surface of the tummy. The stoma is round or oval-shaped, and it looks pink and moist. It has no nerve supply, so it does not hurt.

"Having a stoma means poo (stools) will not pass out of the rectum and anus in the usual way. Instead, it will pass out of the stoma, into a disposable bag that is worn over the stoma."

Adele continued: "Taking on the six major marathons of the world in the hopes of raising what's possible post-cancer with a stoma. It's quite hard to run marathons with them [stoma]".

Talking about the difficulties but stressing she wants to show that it is possible and that it's not going to stop her from doing what she wants, she said that "running has been fundamental, it's been my medicine, it's helped me mentally and physically."

Urging people not to be ashamed of their stoma, she admits it "breaks my heart to think that anyone would be ashamed of a stoma. Anyone who has one has been through a tough time already. So to me it's a badge of honour and it's something you should be proud of. You shouldn't have to hide it away."

The star revealed she calls her stoma Audrey, saying: "When I first saw my stoma it reminded me of the plant of the plant of Little Shop of Horrors."

She plans to participate in marathons across the world in Tokyo, Boston, London with her having already done Berlin, Chicago, and New York City to raise funds for Cancer Research UK and the Attitude Magazine Foundation (AMF).

Adele was diagnosed with the same cancer as Dame Deborah James, who was 35 when she found out that she had stage 4 bowel cancer. Sadly Deborah passed away in June 2022 at the age of 40.

Brumwish 2024 - buy a gift for a child in need

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3. Buy a gift and, even better, rope in friends, neighbours and workmates to do the same, then drop off your pressies at Edgbaston Stadium, Edgbaston Road, B5 7QU on Friday 6th December, 10am - 3pm; Saturday 7th December, 10am - 1pm; or Monday 9th December, 10am - 1pm. Volunteers will be there to help you. Please don't wrap your gifts. You can also drop off by arrangement until Monday 16th December - contact Louise on 07469 979286.

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Symptoms of bowel cancer may include:

• losing weight without trying
• needing to poo more or less often than usual for you
• blood in your poo, which may look red or black
• bleeding from your bottom
• tummy pain
• bloating
• feeling very tired for no reason
• often feeling like you need to poo, even if you've just been to the toilet
• a lump in your tummy
• changes in your poo, such as having softer poo, diarrhoea or constipation that is not usual for you

The NHS further warn that "Bowel cancer can cause anaemia (when you have fewer red blood cells than usual), which can make you feel very tired, short of breath and have headaches."