Sharon Osbourne, 67, arrived in New York to film an episode of The Osbournes when she received the results of a colonoscopy and was diagnosed with bowel cancer.
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Upon the new of her diagnosis, the star’s “stomach dropped” and she ran to the bathroom to throw up, before collapsing on the floor crying.
In less than 24 hours, Sharon was being prepped for surgery, and her surgeon prepared her for every possible outcome.
She told the publication: “In the the best-case scenario, he would discover that the cancer had not spread. He would cut it out and I wouldn’t require further treatment
“I was feeling optimistic. I was of the mind that I would be fine after the operation.”
But it turned out the cancer had in fact spread to Sharon’s lymph nodes, resulting in the removal of two feet of gastrointestinal tract and eight months of chemotherapy.
Describing chemotherapy, Sharon said: “On the first day you get the chemo, you feel fine but, oh my Lord, the next day you feel absolutely horrible. It’s like your body has been attacked. You deal with diarrheoa and vomiting — and that is just the beginning
“Soon, your sense of smell gets distorted and you can’t taste food. Your hair falls out, including your eyebrows and eyelashes. It’s worse than you can imagine.”
Sharon also suffered seizures while undergoing chemotherapy.
She revealed: “I was having massive seizures intermittently. They came without warning and that was truly frightening.”
Sharon as diagnosed with the cancer in 2002 and has now been given the all-clear.
With a new perspective on life, the star is now involved with the Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Foundation, which helps others battle the disease, and she continues to spread an important message.
She said: “Get checked regularly and listen to your body. It will tell you if something is wrong.
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“If you have severe abdominal pains, like I did, or a lump on your breast, go see a doctor.
“Early detection saves lives,” she says. “Life is a gift. Don’t take it for granted.”
Bowel cancer is one of the most common types of cancer diagnosed in the UK, which is why it’s important to recognise symptoms and take up bowel cancer screening.
Bowel cancer symptoms
The symptoms of bowel cancer can be subtle and don’t necessarily make you feel ill, according to the NHS.
It says more than 90 percent of people with bowel cancer have one of the following combinations of symptoms:
- A persistent change in bowel habit – pooing more often, with looser, runnier poos and sometimes tummy (abdominal) pain
- Blood in the poo without other symptoms of piles (haemorrhoids) – this makes it unlikely the cause is haemorrhoids
- Abdominal pain, discomfort or bloating always brought on by eating – sometimes resulting in a reduction in the amount of food eaten and weight loss
NHS bowel cancer screening is offered to people aged 55 or over, as this is when you’re more likely to get bowel cancer.
If you’re too young for screening but are worried about a family history of bowel cancer, speak to your GP for advice.
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