First Dates' Merlin Griffiths issues warning during stage 3 cancer as he details struggles

express.co.uk:

Channel 4 star has warned others to get checked as soon as they think have symptoms, in a bid to prevent it getting worse.The 47-year-old said: "You never really realise how common cancer is until it happens to you.”Merlin has urged others to learn from his mistakes and not be embarrassed to get tested, as the earlier caught the better.The much loved First Dates barman ignored typical symptoms of the disease for several months.Common symptoms can include a persistent change in bowel habit, blood in the poo without other symptoms of piles (haemorrhoids) and abdominal pain, discomfort or bloating always brought on by eating.Merlin believed a pain in his stomach was from a car accident that happened when he was 20, so didn't think to get checked at first.

Naga Munchetty 'let off steam' after furious BBC Breakfast backlashBy the time he reached the doctors for a test, his cancer was at stage three.He was then told he had a 75 per cent chance of living beyond five years.On why he took his time going to get tested, he told The Sun: "It was that typical male reticence thing of going, 'Oh I'm fine', 'it's nothing really', 'I'll be alright.'"I tried to convince myself that the pain just wasn't important."Since his diagnosis, the bartender has gone through a series of treatments including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and robotic surgery.He has also been fitted with a stoma bag, a change Merlin struggled with at first.

He went on to say he hasn't been able to cycle long distances like he used to and said it's also changed the way he eats.Doctors will monitor Merlin with a series of tests over the next five years.Sharon Osbourne reacts to 's**t storm' after Meghan row [REACTION]Alex Scott opens up about 'falling in love' with.