Fans of the popular reality dating show First Dates are taking to social media to celebrate the news that bartender Merlin Griffiths has received an all-clear result from bowel cancer.
Merlin, who rose to fame on the Channel 4 series, bravely shared his diagnosis of bowel cancer in 2021.
The 48-year-old underwent surgery to remove a Stage Three tumour last year. However, he faced complications and had to return to the hospital for another operation. Fortunately, Merlin has now shared that he has been given the all-clear.
Taking to Instagram, Merlin posted a screenshot of an email he received from his doctor, confirming the positive news. The message stated, “Hi Merlin, Hope you are well. Your CT scan has just come through. All looks good, there are no signs of any reoccurrence. Hope this is reassuring.” In the caption, the reality star expressed his relief and gratitude, writing, “Final Year 1 scan results are in, and it’s ALL CLEAR for now. Nice. Thank you #NHS #bowelcancerawareness.”
Fans of First Dates rushed to the post to express their relief and extend their congratulations to Merlin. One Instagram user commented, “Well done Merlin, amazing news! Keep well and enjoy the newfound health.” Another wrote, “Brilliant news! Well done Merlin. This is fabulous.” Many others sent messages of love and support, emphasising the significance of this positive outcome.
Merlin has been open about his diagnosis and his journey with bowel cancer, using his platform to raise awareness about the disease. He highlights that even though he has undergone chemotherapy and two surgeries to remove the tumour, being given the all-clear does not mean he is entirely cancer-free. He explains, “That’s an important distinction to make. Just because you have an operation to remove the tumour doesn’t mean that all of a sudden you are cancer-free. They used to call it remission, now they call it NED, which means no evidence of disease.”
The First Dates star now faces a continuous monitoring process for the next five years until doctors can confidently say there is no evidence of disease and that he is as safe as possible. Merlin shares, “From there, you’ll still have more regular checkups than most, and then it’s ten years, you’re off the list from ten years. That’s as far as it goes. If there’s no recurrence of the disease after ten years, then you are technically cured.”
Merlin’s journey serves as an inspiration to others facing similar battles and reminds everyone of the importance of regular checkups, early detection, and raising awareness about cancer.
For those affected by these issues and in need of confidential support, Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line is available at 0808 808 00 00, operating from 8 am to 8 pm seven days a week.
