First Dates bartender Merlin Griffiths thanked the NHS for “literally saving his life” after undergoing “robotic” surgery to remove a tumor after he was diagnosed with bowel cancer last year.
The 46-year-old TV star looked fragile in a candid selfie from his hospital bed, which he shared on Twitter on Friday, admitting that he was suffering from “pain and pain”.
Only the day before, he wore a black face mask with unicorn prints while declaring that he was “ready, as always,” in an Instagram post before the tumor was removed.
“Thanks to the NHS for literally saving my life”: First Dates bartender Merlin Griffiths, 46, looked fragile in a hospital bed selfie after “robotic” surgery to remove a bowel cancer tumor on Friday
He wrote: “Thank you #NHS for literally saving my life. #BowelCancerAwarenessMonth. ‘
Posting the same shot on the photo-sharing platform, he added: “2 in the morning. Pipes from everywhere. Pain and aches. But no tumor! #bowelcancerawarenessmonth. ‘
Including the April month to fight bowel cancer, he concluded: Ready, as I always will be. Tumor removal time. [champagne emoji] #bowelcancerawarenessmonth. ‘
He also shared a photo of the four-armed “robot” holding surgical instruments and a camera to give his followers an idea of the procedure.
Preparation: Just the day before, he wore a black face mask with unicorn prints while declaring that he was “ready as always” in an Instagram post before the tumor was removed.
Fascinating: He also shared a photo of the four-armed “robot” holding surgical instruments and a camera to give his followers an idea of the procedure.
Frank: Including the month of April to fight bowel cancer, he concluded: Ready, as I always will be. Tumor removal time. [champagne emoji] #bowelcancerawarenessmonth ‘
Merlin announced in March that he was about to have surgery, joking that he had three weeks to “get his fuck together.”
Last year, Merlin was told he had a 75 percent chance of living for more than five years after medical tests revealed a 4.5-cm-long third-stage tumor.
And informing his followers of his progress, he tweeted: “The operation is scheduled. Three weeks to get the fuck together. Robotic surgery, welcome to the future! ‘
He later thanked his fans for their good wishes, adding: “Thank you to everyone who wishes me well. X May your life be prosperous and full of empathy and happiness. ‘
Unhealthy: Merlin announced in March that he was about to have surgery, joking that he had three weeks to “get his fuck together”
Robotic surgery sees surgeons watching the operation through a magnified screen, while a robotic machine with four hands holds surgical instruments and a camera. The surgeon controls the machine’s hands and removes the cancer by operating on a lock.
Merlin received his grim diagnosis from doctors at Northampton Hospital, who said at the time he was trying to maintain a “positive outlook”.
Speaking to the Sunday Mirror last year, Merlin said: “I keep this positive outlook, but I have a painful sense of humor. I tell people, “I have colorectal cancer… it’s a real pain in ar * e!”
Merlin has a seven-year-old daughter named Alix with her 40-year-old partner Lucille, with whom he has been dating for more than a decade, and will be with him for a year of life-saving treatment.
Diagnosis: Last year, Merlin was told she had a 75% chance of living more than five years after medical tests revealed a 4.5-cm-long third-stage tumor.
When the bartender told his young daughter about the alarming diagnosis, he assured her of the power of modern medicine and exploded for the public health system.
Then he said, “I have so much faith in medicine and the NHS in this country that it’s so amazing.”
Keeping her emotions behind closed doors, Merlin admitted: “I shed a tear in private. But you can choose “to do” or “not to do”. I chose to lead my life normally, stick to the facts about it, and keep taking one step ahead of another.
“I have so much faith in medicine and the National Health Service in this country”: Last year, Merlin said she remained optimistic as she spoke about public health
The TV personality, who became famous along with Fred Sirikes at the First Dates restaurant, began to experience pain in June, but thought it was caused by an old abdominal injury from a car accident in his 20s.
Merlin was diagnosed with bowel cancer last year and said his tumor looked like an alien and felt like a nut stuck inside.
Doctors discovered the tumor when they performed an emergency sigmoidoscopy on the bartender to examine the lower intestine after the star spent three months telling people he felt something was wrong with his body.
Merlin admitted that he was horrified by the ordeal, but immediately focused on his chances of surviving the diagnosis.
Close-up: Merlin told colleagues at First Dates about his diagnosis just a week after telling his family (pictured: Fiona Beck, Grant Urquhart, Daniela Kalita, Fred Siriks, David, Sisi Coleman and Merlin on the show)
The star revealed that his tumor wanted to move to the surrounding tissue, but not “lymph” – which means that the cancer fortunately did not spread.
Merlin told colleagues at the First Dates restaurant, including maitre d’hotel Fred Sirieix and waiters Grant Urquhart and CiCi Coleman, about his diagnosis just a week after telling his family.
The bartender admitted that his peers were shocked and could not help but wonder why bad things happen to good people.
The star maintains an optimistic view of the diagnosis and said that his painful sense of humor helps him during anxious times.
BOWEL CANCER: SYMPTOMS YOU SHOULD NOT IGNORE
Colon cancer or colorectal cancer affects the colon, which consists of the colon and rectum.
Such tumors usually develop from precancerous lesions called polyps.
Symptoms include:
- Bleeding from the bottom
- Blood in the stool
- A change in bowel habits lasting at least three weeks
- Unexplained weight loss
- Extreme, inexplicable fatigue
- Stomach ache
Most cases have no clear cause, but people are more at risk if:
- They are over 50
- You have a family history of the condition
- They have a personal history of intestinal polyps
- You suffer from an inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn’s disease
- Lead an unhealthy lifestyle
Treatment usually includes surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
More than nine out of 10 people with stage I bowel cancer survive five or more years after being diagnosed.
This is significantly reduced if diagnosed at a later stage.
According to data on bowel cancer in the United Kingdom, more than 41,200 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer each year in the United Kingdom.
That affects about 40 per 100,000 adults a year in the United States, according to the National Cancer Institute.
Add Comment