Barry Du Bois has been praised by fans after making a brave TV return amid his cancer battle – admitting while he looks “a bit frail”, he’s “on the right track”.
The 57-year-old, who told fans last year that he had been diagnosed with plasmacytoma myeloma, has been going through extreme treatment to try and beat the disease. It’s the second time he’s had cancer, with several tumours returning to his body in 2017. He had previously been in remission for six years.
Now he has made a long-awaited return to his Channel 10 show The Living Room, and took the opportunity to update his close friend and co-star Amanda Keller, along with his fans and viewers, on his health.
As he was welcomed back on to the sofa with hugs from his fellow presenters, he said: “The four of us back together, the strength its given me already is amazing…”
Barry sported a shaved head on the show, having lost his hair during his chemotherapy, but flashed a huge smile on screen – insisting the “love and prayers” he’s received along the way have helped him battle through.
“I feel like the most loved guy on the planet, I’m overwhelmed by support,” he added. “I particularly want to say thank you to the people who have shared their personal journeys with cancer or depression with me, I really want to say to them, stay strong, be well, and I’m sending you life.”
Asked how he’s doing now, he said: “I won’t lie, the treatment I went through was hard work, but I’m back home and with you guys, I reckon I’m on the right track.”
Amanda complimented him on his shorter, shaved hair following his chemo, and joked: “Your hair looks like a cute chicken!”
And sharing a photo on Instagram shorty after, Barry admitted he might have looked “a bit frail”, but he was “feeling better”.
He wrote: “I look a bit frail but I am feeling better for spending a night with these beautiful people.”
Barry began the show with some home renovation visits, but confirmed they were filmed before his chemotherapy treatment – when he was forced to shave his hair.
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He added in another Instagram post: “Last year I announced to you all that my cancer had returned, the support, love & prays that so many of you have sent me has given me incredible strength.
“This strength has helped me achieve so many of the personal goals I set for my recovery. Returning to The Livingroom couch the same night as Chris was one of those goals & tonight that will happen.”
He was praised on social media for his upbeat attitude on air, and incredible bravery – having remained open about his health battle all the way, encouraging others to speak out too.
One viewer shared her own experience with cancer on Twitter, writing: “How wonderful to have @Baz_DuBois back on my TV & the 4 of you back together in a charming new Living Room! You look fab Baz. Having been thru chemo myself I applaud your return & send heart felt congratulations #BlessEaster.”
Another added: “@Baz_DuBois Freakin awesome having you back Baz!!” While another wrote: “Lol – lovely to see you still have a sense of humour.”
One more viewer said: “So great to be watching you now. Welcome back. We have all missed you Barry.”
It comes after Barry had a visit from his co-star Amanda in hospital just a few weeks ago, and the pair later shared their tender moment on the show.
Fighting back tears, an emotional Barry – who wore a hat and loose t-shirt for the appearance – said at the time: “I got really angry but I said this can’t be my time … so I just prepared myself as best as humanly possible.”
Keen to remain positive however, he added: “I got physically fit, fitter than I’ve been in a long time, and lost a few of those kilos I didn’t need. So I started this race as favourite.” As Amanda commented on him looking well, he admitted he’d had a few tough days, but has come out fighting.
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“I got a little infection, which is what happens in this situation. The chemo’s job is to take your white cells down to zero,” he said, before revealing he’d struggled not seeing his children every day. “I’ve had a couple of tough days emotionally, I haven’t seen the kids for so long… But the next day after the antibiotics and the care from the nurses and the doctors I woke up a new man, I’m ready to go again.”
Amanda then said: “There’s so much love for you Baz, everywhere I go people say ‘give my love to Baz'”, and he responded: “I don’t think love is far off fixing the world, the little bit of humanity and love that you get is what really keeps you going.”