‘Dancing On Ice’ Star Adele Roberts, 46, Says One of the Things She’s Most Grateful For Since Her Cancer Diagnosis Is the ‘Incredible People It Brings Into Your Life’
‘Dancing On Ice’ Star Adele Roberts, 46, Says One of the Things She’s Most Grateful For Since Her Cancer Diagnosis Is the ‘Incredible People It Brings Into Your Life’
Finding Strength Through Support to Battle Colorectal Cancer
Dancing on Ice star Adele Roberts, 46, describes one of the most uplifting parts of her cancer journey as connecting with a network of compassionate survivors and supporters who stepped up when she needed it most.
Diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2021, the TV personality and celebrated DJ underwent surgery and chemotherapy, crediting her dance partner with offering crucial emotional encouragement throughout. Strong support systems can play a powerful role in both emotional resilience and physical healing.
Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal or colon cancer, originates in the large intestine (colon) or rectum. It begins when polyps—small growths along the intestinal lining—become cancerous over time.
Leading medical organizations, including the American Gastrointestinal Association, American Cancer Society, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), advise beginning colorectal cancer screening at age 45. A colonoscopy can detect and remove polyps before they progress to cancer.
According to research in The Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, chronic illnesses significantly affect family members as well, disrupting emotional balance, social lives, relationships, and finances. The study stated, “Most chronic diseases have similar effects on family members [as they do on the patient].”
Dancing On Ice star Adele Roberts, 46, may be in remission, but her journey through cancer left a profound mark that continues to shape her life. This spring, she joined a remarkable community of fellow cancer warriors—a moment she described as one of the most unexpected gifts to come from her diagnosis.
“Even though I wouldn’t wish cancer on anyone, and a diagnosis is a turning point from which you are changed forever… this is one of the parts of my journey that I am most grateful for. The incredible people it brings into your life,” Roberts reflected in an emotional Instagram post.
In a powerful photo captured at Buckingham Palace, Roberts—donning medals from her marathon triumph—is seen shaking hands with King Charles III, who is navigating his own cancer battle.
Roberts also acknowledged the unseen impact of her bowel cancer diagnosis on those closest to her.
Bowel cancer is also called colorectal or colon cancer. This kind of cancer develops in your large intestine or bowel (colon) or the end of your intestine (rectum). It starts when abnormal lumps called polyps turn cancerous.
“That was one of the hardest parts for me, what it does to our loved ones. It meant so much to me to be in a room with some of the most inspiring, determined, gracious, and courageous people I have ever met,” she shared.
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 10: Adele Roberts and Mark Hanretty attend the “Dancing On Ice” photocall at Bovingdon Film Studios on January 10, 2024, in London, England. (Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images)
Her heartfelt post lit a spark across social media, with many sharing their own journeys and testaments to the life-changing power of support.
As one follower, Tracy Cepewell, poignantly expressed: “The kindness of strangers who become beloved friends is what has helped me connect with people after my BC diagnosis. We are blessed as a nation and the wider world to feel love in the most challenging times of our lives. Cancer takes, but will never have the final word, whilst we all fight for our own future and those yet to come.
When One Person is diagnosed, the Whole Family Feels It
A serious health diagnosis sends shockwaves far beyond the individual—it touches the lives of every family member. Research published in The Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine found that “most chronic diseases have similar effects on family members [as they do on the patient], including psychological and emotional functioning, disruption of leisure activities, effect on interpersonal relationships, and financial resources.”
Parents, siblings, spouses, and others often carry invisible emotional burdens: “helplessness, lack of control, anger, embarrassment,” researchers observed.
The strain can show up in all kinds of ways—disrupted sleep, altered eating habits, and spiritual or cultural searching for meaning. It can limit freedom, deepen fears about death, and leave loved ones desperately seeking support and understanding.
Yet even amid the emotional toll, experts emphasize that a strong support system has the power to bring families closer. The pain of a diagnosis, while devastating, can also strengthen bonds and foster deeper empathy.
Adele Roberts: A Story of Strength, Vulnerability, and Triumph
Best known for her appearances on Big Brother 3 and Dancing on Ice, and as one of Britain’s groundbreaking Black radio DJs, Adele Roberts’ public platform took on new meaning in fall 2021.
In an Instagram post, Roberts opened up about digestive issues she’d been quietly experiencing. After a conversation with her father, she visited a doctor, despite her hesitation. “I was embarrassed, but I also knew that it could be something serious,” she said.
WATCH: Living with colorectal cancer.
Initially assuming it was food-related, Adele soon learned it was far more serious: she had bowel cancer. “It’s all happened so quickly,” she shared. What followed was surgery and chemotherapy—a whirlwind of uncertainty and courage.
“As I’ve learned over the last few weeks, there’s no ‘normal’ with cancer. Sadly, it can affect anyone, at any age, at any time. It doesn’t discriminate. Early detection can save your life,” she said.
By June 2022, Adele joyfully announced she was “cancer-free.” In a heartfelt post, she wrote, “Everything we’ve been through seems to be swirling around my body, and life feels a bit surreal at the moment, but I’m so grateful.” And in a tribute to the cancer community, she added, “I am also in awe of anyone dealing with cancer. The courage, the strength, the determination.”
Colorectal Cancer: What You Should Know
Colorectal cancer begins when polyps in the colon or rectum become cancerous—a process that can take up to a decade. The good news? Most cases can be prevented with routine screening.
The American Gastrointestinal Association, the American Cancer Society, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend that colon cancer screening begin at age 45. This procedure uses a flexible tube with a camera to inspect the colon and rectum. If polyps are found, they can usually be removed during the exam, significantly lowering your risk. If no polyps are present, another screening may not be necessary for ten years.
WATCH: Colon cancer screening.
Colorectal cancer stages range from:
Stage 1: Tumor is limited to the inner layers of the colon.
Stage 2: Cancer has reached deeper layers of the colon wall.
Stage 3: It has spread to nearby lymph nodes.
Stage 4: It has metastasized to distant organs such as the liver or lungs.
What Treatment Options Exist for Colon Cancer?
“There are a lot of advances being made in colorectal cancer,” Dr. Heather Yeo, a colorectal surgeon at Weill Cornell Medicine, previously told SurvivorNet.
Colon cancer treatment is more targeted, meaning doctors often test for specific changes or genetic mutations that cause cancer growth.
Biomarkers are key to tailoring specific treatments. Biomarkers are molecular patterns becoming more commonly used in colon cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and management. According to the National Cancer Institute, a biomarker is “a biological molecule found in blood, other body fluids, or tissues that is a sign of a normal or abnormal process, or a condition or disease,” such as cancer.
WATCH: Debunking misconceptions about colon cancer.
“In colon cancer, we’re starting to look more and more at people’s biomarkers, so we’re starting to take the cancers, sequence them, understand where the different mutations are to figure out whether or not someone has a normal gene here or an abnormal gene,” Dr. Yeo explained.
“Those are the areas that people want to be able to target a little bit more. We’re getting close to more of what we would call precision medicine, meaning we can start looking at people’s genetic mutations and think about how they might respond to different drugs.”
There are different types of biomarkers, including DNA, proteins, and genetic mutations found in blood, tumor tissue, or other body fluids. The biomarkers most commonly used in colon cancer management are:
Genetic mutations within the tumor, such as MMR/MSI, KRAS, BRAF, and HER2 Bloodstream carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA)
CEA is a protein produced by most tumor cells (but not all) and can be picked up in the bloodstream. High CEA levels do not establish a colon cancer diagnosis. However, higher CEA levels correlate with a worse prognosis and potential metastasis. Carcinoembryonic antigen is important for post-treatment follow-up to ensure the cancer hasn’t returned. Be sure to check with your doctor before treatment starts to ensure a CEA blood sample has been obtained.
WATCH: Deciding When to Operate on Colon Cancer
Surgery and chemotherapy are common approaches to colorectal cancer.
Some examples of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved chemotherapy drug treatments include:
FOLFOX: leucovorin, 5-FU, and oxaliplatin (Eloxatin)
FOLFIRI: leucovorin, 5-FU, and irinotecan (Camptosar)
CAPEOX or CAPOX: capecitabine (Xeloda) and oxaliplatin
FOLFOXIRI: leucovorin, 5-FU, oxaliplatin, and irinotecan
Trifluridine and tipiracil (Lonsurf)
Questions Worth Asking Your Doctor
If you’re facing a colon cancer diagnosis or simply preparing for a screening, consider asking your doctor:
What are my treatment options based on my diagnosis?
If I’m worried about managing the costs of cancer care, who can help me?
What support services are available to me and my family?
Could this treatment affect my sex life? If so, how and for how long?
What are the risks and possible side effects of treatment?
ANSWER QUESTIONS
