First Dates favourite Merlin Griffiths has shared a new update about his health. It comes amid his two-year battle with bowel cancer.
The 49 year old famously made a name for himself after winning hearts as a bartender on Channel 4’s First Dates.
Merlin shared that he was cleared of bowel cancer last June and confirmed that there were no signs of recurrence in January 2024. Now, he has a new health update.
First Dates Merlin shares health update
The reality star has revealed that he is suffering from another health condition in the aftermath of his cancer journey.
Via the Daily Star, Merlin explained: “So we’re two years in with no evidence of disease, as they call it, neg, and that’s good. So yeah, I’m currently just learning to slowly get back to things.
“It’s left me with a condition called low anterior resection syndrome. It’s a relatively new condition that’s being acknowledged these days in relation to my particular operation for bowel cancer, and I’m learning to manage it.
It’s a relatively new condition that’s being acknowledged these days in relation to my particular operation for bowel cancer.
“I’ll never quite be the same again, but I’m here. Slowly but surely, we’ll get back to a new normal… I think part of me still processing it all but you just have to keep going.”
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Merlin has also recently shared a glimpse into the fallout of cancer treatment and despite his good news, he is still being monitored closely.
Merlin Griffiths news
He told the Sun’s TV Mag: “You get monitored for any evidence of disease quite closely for the first five years post cancer, or post-operative treatment. Yeah, so we’ll see. Three more years left to go, we’re getting there.
“[I’m] still slowly getting back to health. I’ll be honest. The bit that surprised me more actually, in the aftermath of this, is the changes that it makes to your body, and the amount of time it takes your body to really recover.
“While externally you can look fine and mentally you can sort of start feeling fine again.”
Merlin was first diagnosed in 2021 and since then has endured chemotherapy and two operations to remove a tumour.
Read more: First Dates favourite Merlin Griffiths thanks the NHS as he shares result from bowel cancer scan
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