When life throws its toughest challenges, some stories stand out—not just for their difficulty, but for the strength and resilience they reveal.
One such journey has captured the attention of many, offering a powerful reminder of hope in the face of uncertainty.
For those familiar with Channel 10’s The Living Room, Barry Du Bois is known for his warm smile and can-do attitude.
Yet behind the scenes, his life has been marked by moments that tested him far beyond the bright lights and cameras.
In a deeply personal letter, he opened up about the darkest chapter of his life—a moment when a doctor looked him in the eye and told him he had just three months to live.
Barry’s battle with cancer began in 2010, when he was diagnosed with solitary plasmacytoma, a rare and aggressive form of blood cancer.
‘I was sitting in a cold, unfamiliar consult room at the hospital, my wife’s hand holding mine… then a doctor who had known me for only a few hours looked me in the eye and told me I had three months to live,’ Barry recalled in his moving essay for The Gold Coast Bulletin.
For most of us, such a prognosis would be utterly shattering. But Barry’s story is one of resilience, hope and the power of perspective.
That doctor’s grim prediction, thankfully, did not come to pass.
Barry continues to live with multiple myeloma, an incurable blood cancer that attacks the immune system and bone marrow, after the disease returned in 2017.
Yet, he’s still here—defying the odds and sharing his journey with honesty and courage.
A life shaped by adversity
Barry’s ability to face such a terrifying diagnosis didn’t come out of nowhere.
His life has been marked by hardship and heartbreak, each challenge forging a little more resilience.
Years before his cancer diagnosis, Barry suffered a devastating fall from a roof, breaking his back after plummeting 14 metres.
He and his wife, Leonie, endured years of failed IVF treatments, only to be dealt another cruel blow: Leonie was diagnosed with cervical cancer just two weeks after a miscarriage during their 12th round of IVF.
‘When I got my diagnosis—incurable cancer, three months to live—I didn’t fall apart,’ Barry wrote.
‘I knew that from leaning into the previous adversities of life I had the resilience to give the fight of my life.’
But Barry is the first to admit that resilience isn’t always easy to find. After his wife’s miscarriage and cancer diagnosis, he spiralled into depression.
‘I avoided conversation and started a continual negative conversation with myself that took me into the darkness… depression is a lonely state and I refused to share my pain. I saw it as a weakness.’
It was his family who ultimately helped him find his way back. Their love and support became the foundation for the positive outlook that has carried him through the toughest times.
Redefining what it means to live
Barry’s story is a powerful reminder that a diagnosis doesn’t have to define you.
‘I was overwhelmed with fear, uncertainty and the unknown,’ he said of his initial diagnosis.
‘But through it all, I realised something that I feel is why I am here today: It wasn’t going to be cancer that defined me but the way I choose to approach it.’
Since first appearing on our screens in 2011 as a contestant on The Renovators, and later as a beloved co-host on The Living Room alongside Amanda Keller, Dr Chris Brown and Miguel Maestre, Barry has become a beacon of hope for many Australians facing their own battles.
He’s been open about his cancer journey, sharing both the highs and the lows on social media, and encouraging others to talk about their struggles rather than suffer in silence.
The importance of mental health and support
Barry’s honesty about his mental health struggles is especially important. For many men, there’s still a stigma around talking about depression and vulnerability.
Barry’s willingness to share his darkest moments helps break down those barriers, reminding us all that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
His story also highlights the crucial role of family and community. Whether it’s a partner, children, friends or even a support group, having people to lean on can make all the difference when life throws its hardest punches.
Your turn: Have you faced a life-changing diagnosis?
Barry’s story is a powerful reminder that even in the face of the most daunting challenges, there is always hope.
Have you or someone close to you ever faced a major health scare or life-altering diagnosis? How did it shape your outlook or approach to life?
Feel free to share your thoughts or reflections in the comments below—we welcome respectful and thoughtful discussion from all corners of the community.
Also read: Is this secret the reason this cancer survivor is still running marathons?
