Amanda Keller has praised her Living Room co-star Barry DuBois’ strength as he opened up on his brave fight against cancer.
Barry, 57, was first diagnosed with plasmacytoma, cancer of the immune system, in 2010 and the TV star underwent successful treatment.
However, following a six month period in remission, the Network Ten star revealed that his cancer had sadly returned during an emotional episode of The Living Room in October last year. Barry told viewers that he had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, which is cancer of the plasma cells, and had several tumours.
He recently underwent treatment including chemotherapy, but has since recovered enough to return to the show – and even accompanied his co-stars to the 2018 TV Logie Awards on the Gold Coast last weekend.
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Speaking to Starts at 60 on the red carpet, he said: “I’m in the best place I can be, I don’t have a curable disease…”
Barry has been incredibly open about every stage of his journey, and asked if it’s important for famous faces to speak about health battles, he said: “We know that if we talk about things and unpick them, it helps. Conversation is the most important thing we can have.
“We try to do that on Friday nights too. The strength and love I’ve got has given me incredible strength, and I appreciate it from everyone.”
The TV star was there to support Amanda in her bid for gold, and weeks before the awards, he even recorded a video thanking her for her endless support throughout his health battle.
“I’m very lucky that I sit by Amanda, I’ve every reason to be very proud of her,” he added.
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“She’s been incredible, she’s not only a co-host or host, she’s an amazing friend. I’m very lucky.”
Meanwhile, Amanda was full of praise for her co-star, and told Starts at 60: “This year is a very different year, it feels like a different year for us, and to be honest – just for us all being here, Barry looking and feeling so well, for all of us to have this.
“At the end of last year, we couldn’t have predicted if we’d all be here on the red carpet and Barry looking so great, so it does feel extra special.”
It comes after Barry publicly thanked his children for “giving him strength” to carry on following his second battle with cancer.
Du Bois posted the emotional message on Instagram alongside a throwback snap of him with his two young children, five-year-old twins Arabella and Bennett.
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The sweet candid photo shows Barry sitting on the steps of an unfinished swimming pool, watching his “little apprentices” Bennett and Arabella – who is cheekily grinning at the camera.
He wrote: “Flashback Friday to a healthier time building our pool with my little apprentice’s Looking back sometimes is all it takes to give us strength to power forward. #love #strength #positivevibes#flashbackfriday”.