Sunrise star Edwina Bartholomew discusses the very surprising reason she chose to reveal her cancer diagnosis live on air

Edwina Bartholomew has revealed the reason she decided to go public with her cancer diagnosis live on air earlier this year.

The Sunrise star, 41, revealed she had been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia - a type of blood and bone marrow cancer - on the breakfast show in September.

The South Australian-born presenter recently told Stellar Magazine's Something To Talk About podcast the reason why she decided to make such a public announcement.

'The reason I wanted to speak so publicly about it was because I just felt it could really help people because I had no symptoms or indication I was sick,' Edwina began.

She added by going public she hoped to inspire other people to get a health checkup, to ensure their illness was properly diagnosed and treated in time. 

'I genuinely thought it could help people in terms of going to the doctor and getting a health check.'

The presenter then said several people had reached out to her to tell her that she inspired them to go to the doctor, who properly diagnosed an illness in time.

'I will read a text I received from a friend of mine just this week. She said, "I wanted to wait until I had the results to tell you. Because of you, I went and had every overdue scan, screen and test"

"All were fine except breast. They found a lump on my chest wall which was impossible to feel but lit up like a balloon on the mammogram.

"Because of you I was called into the office of the nurse, not the oncologist. I'm one of the lucky ones, it was just a cyst. Because of you, I feel very grateful to be well and relieved and I hope you're feeling as good as me today".' 

Edwina broke down as she said it was an 'unbelievable' feeling to have inspired several people to see a health care specialist to ensure they had a clean bill of health. 

Elsewhere, Edwina admitted that getting cancer may end up being the 'best thing that has ever happened' to her, though it's still 'too early' to say for certain.

She said that the horror news she received at her GP has since brought nothing but 'love' to her life.

'I think it’s too early to say it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me because we’ll see how things pan out,' she told Stellar magazine.

'But the most powerful thing that happened this year is finding out. I felt the extraordinary force of love from everyone—everyone I’ve ever met. 

The TV personality went on to say her 'phone absolutely lit up' as she was contacted by ex-boyfriends, real estate agents, and her mortgage broker after revealing her diagnosis.

'I really felt what it was like to be loved. And I learnt what it is to love. So deeply. And to realise what’s so important to me. I would never give that back,' she added.

Edwina also revealed she has kept her cancer diagnosis a secret from her children Molly, four, and Tom, two.

The presenter, who shares her kids with husband Neil Varcoe, said she feels her children are simply too young to understand.

Edwina was first diagnosed in July and has since cut down on her work with the popular Channel Seven breakfast program Sunrise to focus on her health.

In September, Edwina revealed live on-air that she had been diagnosed with cancer in a tearful admission.

'I have been diagnosed with cancer. That's a shock and hard to say,' she sadly told viewers.

'It is a really good kind. It is called chronic myeloid leukaemia. It can be treated with a daily tablet. If I can take care of myself, I will be completely fine,' she continued.