FormerEastEnders starDean Gaffney has said that he “might not be here today” if it wasn’t for theI’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! medical team.
The soap star,who recently joined the likes of Myleene Klass and Carol Vorderman in the I’m A Celebrity… South Africa jungle, revealed that he was in the running to enter the jungle back in 2020 when he underwent a series of medical examinations which discovered warning signs of bowel cancer.
Speaking tothe Mirror, the 45 year old explained that doctors discovered some polyps in his large intestine and that he underwent an emergency procedure where they “burned the polyps” away.
“There is no doubt I’m A Celeb and its medical team saved my life. I might not be here today if it wasn’t for them finding what they did,” he said.
The actor said that he felt “lucky” to have been checked out, adding that he was warned by the doctor that things could have progressed if he hadn't been examined.
Explaining the severity of the situation, he said that the doctor told him: “Had you not come to us today, in three years that could have turned to bowel cancer. You’ve been very lucky.”
Dean’s operation came in 2020 after he was booked as one of 12 standby contestants who were lined up to enter Gwrych Castle in case one of the existing campmates dropped out of the show.
After securing a spot on the popular series, the soap legend,who previously appeared in the Australian jungle in 2006, underwent some routine blood tests which discovered that he was “losing blood” and that he was given a gastroscopy and a colonoscopy to investigate.
As doctors looked at the results of the tests, it was discovered that Dean had some polyps in his large intestine, with one of them being around “20mm” in size.
Following the health scare, Dean added that he is now hoping to raise awareness of bowel cancer and its symptoms – admitting that he had previously experienced blood in his stools but had put it down to his diet.
Dean’s brave admission comes after he opened up about his time on the new South Africa I’m A Celeb spin-off show, where he spent a week competing to be crowned King of the Jungle.
During a recent appearance on Good Morning Britain,Dean said that his stint in the jungle was a “breeze” after his fellow contestants kept winning trials and bringing meals back to the camp.
“For me it was an absolute breeze going into camp, I went in there for six, seven days, I ate like a King and it was nice!,” he said.
“That’s the thing in camp, people do lose weight. When I was in the original camp, with David Gest, rest his soul, I lost two stone and now I’ve put on nearly a stone.”
READ MORE:
Click here for today's top showbiz news
Holly Willoughby 'wants Phillip Schofield gone' from This Morning as 'feud' continues
Kate Middleton plays piano accompanying Ukraine at start of Eurovision Song Contest
Katie Price prepares for son Harvey's 21st birthday with adorable throwback pic
Kerry Katona shows off weight loss in maxi dress after diet and fitness overhaul
Source: Read Full Article