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First Dates bartender Merlin Griffiths has showed his scars from his stoma on television after speaking about his battle with bowel cancer.
A series regular on the reality dating show, the TV personality, 47, was first diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2021 and has been undergoing treatment ever since.
After a 4.5cm wide tumour was found in his bowel two years ago, Merlin was told he had stage three bowel cancer, and has been sharing his health journey with the public.
When appearing on Lorraine on Wednesday as part of the No Butts campaign, which the TV host started with the late Dame Deborah James, Merlin spoke more about how important it was to continue with raising awareness.
‘Going through it all myself, you get very comfortable talking about this stuff [checking your poo] because you have to and you’re dealing with medical professionals and treating your diagnosis,’ he said.
‘But I think there is a bigger point and people have to be comfortable talking about this before this happens.’
Merlin Griffiths appeared on Lorraine to speak about his bowel cancer battle (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
Speaking about his early symptoms, Merlin said he experienced ‘crushing exhaustion’ where he could barely get off the sofa, and noticed changes in his bowel habits.
After being diagnosed, he went through chemotherapy with an intravenous infusion, chemoradiotherapy, a low anterior resection which removed his rectum and colon, which he explained had now been reattached, and he also had a stoma.
‘That was reversed this year,’ he then said.
He then showed off his stoma scars, after having it removed earlier this year (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
He then explained that the stoma reversal was an important milestone in his recovery journey and that he was in the all-clear at the moment.
What is a stoma?
A stoma is an opening on the abdomen that can be connected to either the digestive or urinary system to allow waste (urine or faeces) to be diverted out of the body.
It looks like a small, pinkish, circular piece of flesh that is sewn to the body, over which a pouch is worn.
According to research carried out by the NHS, there are 176,824 people in the UK living with a stoma, with the most common conditions resulting in stoma surgery being colorectal cancer, bladder cancer, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease and accidental injury.
When asked by Lorraine about his scars, Merlin asked if he could pull up his shirt and show them, which he did as the camera zoomed in to show his stomach.
‘That’s what you’re left with afterwards,’ he explained.
Merlin has appeared on First Dates over the past decade (Picture: Channel 4)
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Back in January, Merlin shared he was in his final stages of treatment.
Posting a photo in a hospital bed holding his companion Buttony the Bear, Merlin wrote that he was ‘ready to go’, with fans offering messages of support.
Lorraine airs weekdays from 9am on ITV.
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‘This is what you’re left with afterwards.’