Dean Gaffney, known for his role in EastEnders, has expressed gratitude towards the medical team of the hit show I’m A Celebrity, stating that he owes his life to their intervention.
Gaffney revealed that during his time in the jungle, the medical team made a critical discovery that potentially saved his life.
Participating in the spin-off show set in South Africa, Gaffney joined a star-studded lineup of I’m A Celeb alumni for this year’s ‘Legend’ series.
Alongside him were familiar faces such as Myleene Klass, Jordan Banjo, Carol Vorderman, and Shaun Ryder. However, before embarking on this jungle adventure, Gaffney faced a severe health scare.
Fortunately, with the help of the ITV medical team, Gaffney was able to overcome his health issues.
The actor shared that he had initially planned to enter the jungle in 2020, during which time he underwent a series of medical checks. These tests unveiled warning signs of bowel cancer, as routine blood tests indicated blood loss.
Prompted by these findings, doctors conducted further examinations, including a gastroscopy and a colonoscopy.
During these procedures, they discovered polyps in Gaffney’s large intestine, with one of them measuring up to 20mm in size. Responding swiftly to this discovery, an emergency procedure was performed in the same year to remove and treat the polyps.
Gaffney expressed his deep appreciation, acknowledging that the I’m A Celeb show and its medical team played a crucial role in saving his life. He emphasised that without their intervention and timely detection, he might not have been alive today. Recognising his fortunate circumstances, Gaffney recalled the doctor’s words, who revealed that if the issue had gone unnoticed for three more years, it could have developed into bowel cancer.
Three years after the incident, Gaffney has chosen to utilize his platform to raise awareness of bowel cancer and its symptoms.
Reflecting on his experience, he admitted to experiencing blood in his stools, a significant symptom of the disease that he had neglected to investigate earlier. Grateful for the show’s impact on his life, Gaffney now diligently monitors his stools and encourages others to do the same, urging them not to ignore potential signs of illness.
Although the cancer scare was undoubtedly a distressing experience, Gaffney has demonstrated resilience and triumphed over challenges, as evident by his successful completion of numerous Bushtucker Trials on the show. Today, he stands stronger than ever, using his journey to shed light on an important health issue and inspire others to prioritise their well-being.
