Male bravado meant I ignored cancer warning sign – don’t make my mistake, says First Dates star Merlin Griffiths

, found that only 40 per cent of people who experience symptoms would see their GP straightaway.

Three months prior to the devastating diagnosis, Merlin started to get pain in his stomach, which he thought was because of a car accident that happened when he was 20.

"I managed to pull the wool over my own eyes for a worryingly long time," he adds.

He calls on people to learn from his mistakes and not "be embarrassed to tackle these issues head on."

"This could have all been avoided if I'd seen my GP when my symptoms first began"

Merlin Griffiths

"Believe me, doctors have seen it all - I should know," he laughs.

Since his diagnosis, Merlin has gone through a series of gruelling treatments including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and robotic surgery to removed the cancer itself.

The star did admit he continued to film the show while undergoing chemo.

"Nothing will stop the true course of love," he jokes.

Living with cancer

Doctors have now fitted Melvin with a stoma bag - to give his bowel time to recover, he tells The Sun.

A stoma is an opening which is made in the abdomen with surgery, to divert waste out of the body and into a colostomy bag.

"I really struggled with the bag to begin with, it's changed the way I behave, eat and how active I can be."

Merlin says he used to be a very keen cyclist.

"I used to cycle very long distances from Florence to Rome and up and down the French Alps at the drop of a hat.

"I've not been able to do for a while," he adds.

"This could have all been avoided if I'd seen my GP when my symptoms first began."

Cancer that’s diagnosed at an early stage - when it isn’t too large and hasn’t spread - is more likely to be treated successfully.

So far, Merlin's treatment has been successful and he is hopeful doctors will be able to remove the stoma soon.

He will have to return to hospital for regular tests for the next five years before he can get the all-clear.

"It's amazingly easy to get tested these days - especially since screening tests are being sent to over 50s," he says.

In December last year, people in their 50s in England were invited for NHS tests to check for the earliest signs of bowel cancer for the first time.

This came after the The Sun's No Time 2 Lose campaign - championed by Dame Deborah James - called on the Government to lower the age limit for the life-saving stool tests from 60-50.

Until 2021, bowel cancer screening in England began at 60, while in Scotland tests were sent out to people on their 50th birthday.

Now, the new programme is being rolled out meaning everyone over 50 will receive an a bowel cancer testing kit every two years to do at home and send away for testing.

If any abnormalities are found, patients will be called in for further testing including a colonoscopy.

A colonoscopy is a procedure in which a doctor uses a colonoscope or scope, to look inside your rectum and colon.

"It's simply incredible that you can pop some poo in the post and that can save your life," says Merlin.

However, because Merlin in under 50, he did not qualify for the screening programme - which meant it to was up to him to seek help from a GP.

"It's still so easy to get tested," Merlin explains.

"Go to your GP if you have symptoms and be strong about it.

"Let them know how you feel and ask for a test," he adds.

Stay on Track is a campaign with Merlin Griffiths, in partnership with Norgine and Bowel Cancer UK, which aims to raise awareness of bowel cancer and the importance of screening, testing and early diagnosis.