Australian TV personality and Leukaemia Foundation Ambassador Barry Du Bois was first diagnosed with solitary plasmacytoma in 2010, before it progressed to myeloma in 2017. In this powerful and deeply personal story, Barry reflects on his blood cancer journey, the “borrowed trauma” that comes with supporting others through hardship, and the importance of mental health, family, and resilience in today’s relentless, fast-paced world.
This story contains discussions and themes regarding depression and suicide, which could be distressing or triggering for some readers. Please take care while reading and consider seeking support if needed. For emotional support related to blood cancer, you can call our team on 1800 620 420 or call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Before his own blood cancer diagnosis in 2010, Barry Du Bois knew the devastating impact cancer can have all too well after a traumatic experience 13 years earlier.
My beautiful mum had been battling cancer for quite some time. She started with breast cancer, but in the end it was everywhere. Just 12 months after, mum passed away.
“We were still grieving, and my wife and I were going through IVF. [After] several attempts, we were pregnant with twins. And at 17 weeks, we lost that pregnancy.
“In the follow-up to that, we discovered that Leonie had cervical cancer. And, so again, I’m still grieving the passing of my mum, and I’m trying to support my dad who was clinically blind at that stage. You don’t have time to grieve. And then we’re going to treatment for Leonie. That’s a whole lot of borrowed trauma.
This experience deeply shook Barry and impacted his mental health for many years, but it also became the catalyst for building the strength, resilience, and perspective that would help him face life’s toughest challenges – including two cancer diagnoses.
“It really started to affect my mental health. Cancer just seemed to be popping up with everybody I cared about. I didn’t want to talk about the fact that I was really deeply hurting, because I felt that a lot of people relied on me.
“I’d gotten myself to such a point that I was literally blaming myself for the issues of the ones I loved. That sent me down a dark spiral. I got very depressed, and I even considered taking my own life. But thankfully, I found a way to rebuild resilience. It taught me to lean into adversity.”
This newfound sense of inner strength was put to the biggest possible test shortly after, when Barry received a cancer diagnosis of his own for the first time in 2010.
“There were three doctors in front of me, and the first doctor literally said, ‘I’m really sorry, Barry. It’s very aggressive. It’s a big tumour in a really difficult place. I think the best thing you can do is go home, spend as much time as you can with your family, and tidy up your affairs. I think you’ve got about three months to live.’”
But despite hearing these devastating words, Barry’s thoughts immediately turned to his wife, and with that came a powerful realisation. There was no way he was going to leave her – and their dream of becoming parents – behind.
I just said, ‘thank you for your opinion, but I’m not interested in it’. When you have cancer, or a serious illness of any description, you’re at the top of the hierarchy. And you shouldn’t, if you can, let anybody dictate your journey.
Barry defied the odds in more ways than one. Not only did he achieve remission, but after multiple heartbreaking IVF miscarriages, he and his wife Leonie welcomed beautiful twins, Bennet and Arabella, into the world.
Through every challenge, Barry continued to go from strength to strength, embracing life with renewed gratitude, resilience, and purpose.
After retiring from his profession as a builder, designer, and property developer, he embarked upon a new career journey – Australian television. And as both he and the Australian public soon discovered, he was pretty good at that too.
Barry first appeared on reality renovation show The Renovators as a building mentor and judge, before cementing himself as a staple on 10’s lifestyle program The Living Room as a co-host alongside other big names such as Amanda Keller, Dr. Chris Brown and Miguel Maestre.
It was during his time on the show that Barry received the life-changing news his blood cancer had returned as multiple myeloma in 2017, marking a turning point where what had once been a private health battle suddenly became a very public journey, unfolding in front of audiences across the country.
“I was filming [for The Living Room] one day, and I got this phone call from a private number. It was my doctor. He said, ‘It seems that the plasmacytoma being one myeloma has now spread to a multiple’, and I had lots of tumours in my body.”
“We were a little bit worried about announcing it on TV,” Barry recalls. “But within minutes of [the announcement], there were literally hundreds of thousands of messages of support. And it was so powerful for me.”
Barry began chemotherapy immediately and underwent a stem cell transplant, and continues to monitor and manage his blood cancer today.
Myeloma is an incurable blood cancer that starts in plasma cells, a type of white blood cell that helps the body fight infection. In myeloma, these cells multiply abnormally in the bone marrow. It is usually a long-term condition, but treatments have improved and many people are able to manage the disease and maintain a good quality of life.
The disease is still in my body, it’s not something that will go away and I’ll never be cured of it, but it’s something that me, my wife and my team of doctors will continue to manage for the rest of my life.
Today, Barry continues to live life to the fullest, share his story, and raise awareness of both blood cancer as a Leukaemia Foundation Ambassador and mental health as a board member of RUOK?.
“I’m sharing my story hoping that it will help other people going through something similar to me. Everyone affected by blood cancer deserves the best possible care and support, regardless of where they live or their circumstances.
“I know that from my own river of life that seeking help can be difficult, especially when you feel the pressure to appear strong and capable. That is why it is crucial to reach out. Working with the Leukaemia Foundation, I want people to know they’re not alone.”
To learn more about Barry’s story, listen to this episode of the Talking Blood Cancer Podcast where he sits down with host Maryanne Skarparis to discuss his lived experience in further detail. Barry speaks openly about his myeloma diagnosis, including his first cancer diagnosis in 2011 and his later experience with multiple myeloma, providing insight into both the patient and carer perspectives.
Barry has also published a free breathwork video to help patients, carers, or loved ones.
“Breathwork has been a quiet but powerful part of my life for many years. When I was told I had just three months to live due to blood cancer – a diagnosis I now live with – I needed simple ways to steady myself when everything felt uncertain. Breath work became one of those anchors.
“Slow, intentional breathing supports oxygen delivery to the blood, encourages circulation, and helps calm the nervous system. That state of calm can support immune health, recovery, and the body’s ability to cope with treatment and fatigue.”
For support related to blood cancer, visit our support page or call our team on 1800 620 420. Alternatively, you can call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
