“Dancing on Ice” star Adele Roberts, 44, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2021 and endured surgery, chemotherapy, and having to reclaim her sense of self to recover fully. She credits her dance partner for helping encourage her throughout her cancer journey. Having support during your journey offers many benefits, emotionally and physically.
Bowel cancer is also commonly called colorectal cancer in the U.S. 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.
A colonoscopy, recommended for people beginning at age 45, looks for polyps before they become cancerous. Any polyps found can be removed in the procedure.
A major health challenge can impact your body physically and emotionally, causing noticeable changes to your appearance.
Dr. Marianna Strongin encourages cancer warriors to take ownership of the part (or parts) of their bodies impacted mainly by cancer treatment.
She says although they may represent “fear and pain,” they may also represent “strength and courage.”
“Dancing on Ice” star Adele Roberts, 44, is thanking her ice-skating coach and partner for helping her perfect her skills on the ice and reclaim her body she once felt she lost amid bowel cancer.
A diagnosis can have wide-ranging effects on you mentally and physically that cause some patients to barely recognize themselves. This was partly the case for Roberts, who, with the help of ice skater Mark Hanretty, helped her reconnect with her body, regaining her confidence.
Roberts was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2021, and while undergoing treatment, the pain of cancer took its toll.
Bowel cancer is also commonly called colorectal cancer in the U.S. 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.
“Mark has taught me to get my head up, to just present myself and know my body better,” Roberts told Radio Times.
Roberts said on Instagram, “It’s amazing what you can achieve in ten weeks of training, especially someone who’s 44, recovering from cancer and chemo, has a stoma and has never skated or danced before.”
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)
“Mark must have been trying to find the receipt to send me back when he found out he had me, haha,” Roberts continued.
“With what I’ve been through health-wise, I think I was a bit disconnected from my body, but Mark has helped me reclaim my body and be able to fully function,” Roberts said.
‘No Easy Way to Do This’
In October 2021, Roberts shared on Instagram that she was struggling with digestion. After telling her dad about it, she was encouraged to see her doctor.
“I was embarrassed, but I also knew that it could be something serious,” she said.
She first thought she was dealing with food insensitivity, but after undergoing tests, doctors diagnosed her with bowel cancer.
WATCH: Living with colorectal cancer.
“It’s all happened so quickly,” she said at the time.
“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,” Roberts added.
Roberts underwent surgery and chemotherapy for treatment. Roughly a year later, she shared she was declared “cancer-free.”
“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,” Roberts said in a June 2022 social media post.
“I am also in awe of anyone dealing with cancer. The courage, the strength, the determination,” she said.
How Cancer Can Change Your Body
“Changes to your body may be temporary or permanent. They include changes that can be seen by others, such as hair loss or weight gain,” MacMillan Cancer Support says, noting physical changes.
“Changes that are not obviously visible to others, such as infertility, can also affect your body image and make you feel vulnerable about your body,” MacMillian Cancer Support added.
One way you can prepare yourself for possible body changes during cancer treatment is to understand changes are possible but also temporary. It also helps to build up your self-confidence. Your support group filled with loved ones can help you during this stage of your journey.
Psychologist Dr. Marianna Strongin shares with SurvivorNet some additional tips cancer warriors can explore to help manage the emotional toll body changes can have during treatment.
Dr. Strongin encourages cancer warriors to take ownership of the part (or parts) of their body mostly impacted by cancer treatment. She says although they may represent “fear and pain,” they also represent “strength and courage.”
“Research has found that when looking in the mirror, we are more likely to focus on the parts of our body we are dissatisfied with, which causes us to have a negative self-view and lower self-esteem. Therefore, I would like for you to first spend time gazing at the parts of your body you love, give them time, honor them, and then thank them,” Dr. Strongin said.
Dr. Strongin then suggests looking at the part or parts of your body impacted by the cancer or cancer treatment. She recommends creating a regular practice of accepting your body image because it helps you accept your cancer journey emotionally and physically.
“As you allow yourself to spend more time looking at all of you, you will begin having a new relationship with your body. It may not happen immediately, but with time, you can begin honoring and thanking your new body,” Dr. Strongin added.
Understanding Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal cancer happens when polyps are not removed and become cancerous. It can take up to 10 years for a colon polyp to become cancerous, according to SurvivorNet experts.
Fortunately, most colorectal cancers can be prevented if you are regularly screened. SurvivorNet experts recommend a colonoscopy for colon screening.
A colonoscopy involves a long, thin tube attached to a camera to examine the colon and rectum. If polyps are discovered, they can be removed during the procedure. If no polyps are found, your next screening will not be needed for ten years.
The American Gastrointestinal Association, the American Cancer Society, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend colon cancer screening begin at age 45. However, it would be best to talk with your doctor to determine the best time to screen for you.
WATCH: Colon cancer screening.
Colorectal cancer is staged depending on how advanced it is and if it has spread to other body parts.
Stage 1 cancers are those in which the tumor has only penetrated the superficial layers of the colon and hasn’t gotten into the deeper layers.
Stage 2 cancers involve the deeper layers of the colon wall
Stage 3 cancers have spread to the lymph nodes around the colon
Stage 4 cancers have spread to other organs, such as the liver, lungs, or peritoneal cavity (the space in your abdomen that holds your intestines, stomach, and liver)
Questions to Ask Your Doctor
If you are facing a colon cancer diagnosis, here are some questions you may ask 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? To 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?
Kavontae Smalls is a writer and reporter for SurvivorNet. Read More
After the Colon Cancer Diagnosis
A positive attitude can go a long way when facing cancer. There are steps like living with gratitude and making sure you’re informed that can really alleviate some of the stress that comes along with a diagnosis.
