Radio 1 DJ Adele Roberts has shared the hidden side effects of her cancer treatment which she says has left her skin looking like it has been burned. The I'm a Celebrity contestant posted photos of her skin on Instagram after admitting she has always struggled with the way it looked.
Adele, 43, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in October last year and is currently receiving treatment. She says the medication has 'ravaged' her body, leaving her with 'holes' on her face during the first round of chemotherapy.
The Mirror reports that the DJ felt shame about her skin during her time in the jungle on ITV's I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here. Adele was given permission to wear makeup during the series and has revealed that she would sneakily apply it every morning so that her campmates would not see her natural skin.
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Adele wrote on Instagram: "I’ve always been embarrassed about my skin. I’ve struggled with it for most of my life. I’ll never forget when it first started to breakout and a lady asking me if I’d been in an accident. I was mortified… I think I’ve carried that shame with me for too long.
“Everything I’m going through at the moment has taught me it’s good to share. I’m not the only one. I’m very lucky to be on this treatment but it’s ravaged my skin a lot.”
She added: “I’ve shared what it’s done to my hands and feet but I was too ashamed to show you my face. I’ve been thinking a lot recently and I’ve realised that it’s good to share as much as I can. What if someone else is suffering too and they think they’re alone. You’re not.”
Adele thanked her partner Kate Holderness for her help during the treatment. She said: "Kate’s helped me so much and has helped me cover my scars with makeup. We use a foundation by Kat Von D which has been formulated to cover up face tattoos.
“This is the first step to my liberation I guess. I hope you don’t mind me sharing but I hope it helps at least one person. The first round of my chemotherapy was a bit strong and ended up with me looking like I’d been burned. I had holes all over my face. One day I’ll show you but I think what I’m sharing today is a big enough step for me."
Adele has continuously shared her recovery on social media and is finishing her chemotherapy medication next Monday. “I don’t want to be ashamed anymore. I’m alive and I’m lucky to be on this treatment. My skin is also healing and looking SO MUCH BETTER than the start. Plus I’m nearly there now! Monday can’t come soon enough xx," she wrote.
She also revealed the lengths she went to to cover up her skin when appearing on I’m A Celebrity in 2019. Adele said: “Ps. When I was in the jungle I used to get up really early to hide in the medicine hut so I could cover up my acne scars.
“This was totally in the rules by the way, I had permission to take makeup for my acne but I was too ashamed to let my camp mates see me with no makeup on. It even made showering and some of the tasks harder.
"I used to freak out if my face got wet. I feel stupid now but I just want you to know how silly I’ve been.” Adele told her followers on Instagram stories that she will have a scan in six weeks, which she hopes will reveal that she is cancer-free.
