Dean Gaffney has praised I’m A Celeb medics for saving his life after they flagged bowel cancer signs and rushed him into surgery.
The campmate, who left the South Africa spin-off last week, said he is lucky to be alive following his health scare.
The ex-EastEnders star revealed doctors spotted polyps in his large intestine during tests for Gwrych Castle in 2020.
READ MORE: I’m A Celebrity’s Dean Gaffney in ‘furious bust-up’ with Janice Dickinson’s husband
Dean, 45, told The Mirror: “There is no doubt I’m A Celeb and its medical team saved my life. I might not be here today if it wasn’t for them finding what they did.”
He was warned he had to have an emergency operation that same day.
(Image: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
After his surgery, the doctor told him: “Had you not come to us today, in three years that could have turned to bowel cancer. You’ve been very lucky.”
The dad-of-two said his health scare took place when he was a standby for campmates in Gwrych Castle in case they caught Covid.
Dean added: “I’m A Celebrity staff told me in September I’d got the job and I was called to a medical in October. I thought nothing of it and did the routine blood tests. When it came back, it showed I was losing blood.
“They thought it might be anaemia or an iron deficiency. I thought they were being a bit over the top.”
(Image: Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)
The star said medics put a camera down his throat and also gave him a colonoscopy.
“Later that day the results showed they had found polyps which were massive,” he said. “One was huge. I think 20mm, which is big for a polyp.
“They didn’t mess about, they put me under general anaesthetic, operated and burned the polyps away. When I came round, I could see the doctors were slightly angry with me and it was serious.”
Dean admitted he didn’t check his stools regularly before his scare.
(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
He added: “Any time I’ve ever seen a bit of red I just think, maybe I’ve had peri-peri sauce. I’m not tired and run-down, because I’ve been quite lucky. I don’t smoke, I rarely drink. I haven’t been to a doctor in years.”
Dean has since urged others to check their stools.
He continued: “I’m so grateful to the people on the show for bringing it to my attention. I check my stools all the time now. I’d urge others to do it, too.
“Death does scare me. I’m not one of these people who think you go to a lovely place and it’s fine.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
