Aussie TV star Barry Du Bois names the one key change he made after being told he had ‘three months to live’ a decade ago – amid ongoing battle

Channel 10 star Barry Du Bois has revealed the one powerful change he made after being told he had just three months to live.

The Sydney-born presenter, 65, shared a deeply personal update with fans, reflecting on how learning to regulate his nervous system transformed the way he copes with illness, uncertainty and pain.

Barry was diagnosed with Plasmacytoma Myeloma – a rare and incurable cancer of the immune system – after doctors once warned he had only months left to live.

More than a decade on, he remains determinedly optimistic, crediting calm, self-regulation and gentleness as the mindset that keeps him moving forward.

In a heartfelt Facebook post, the former The Living Room host explained that true strength didn’t come from denial or pushing through at all costs.

‘When I was told I had three months to live a decade ago, calm didn’t come from pretending everything was fine,’ Barry wrote.

‘It came from learning how to steady my nervous system – one breath, one moment at a time.

‘That experience changed how I see strength. Strength isn’t pushing harder. It’s learning how to stay regulated when life is uncertain.’

Barry said the approach now underpins everything he shares publicly, describing his work as ‘gentle, grounded, and practical’ as he continues to support others navigating illness, trauma and emotional overwhelm.

‘We are all on our own journey. My website has resources and courses that may make your journey a little easier to navigate,’ he added.

The post sparked an outpouring of support from fans, many of whom have followed Barry’s journey since his devastating diagnosis.

‘I remember when your friend Amanda had announced it. I was very sad hearing the news. Glad you’re doing well mate, all the best for the future,’ one follower wrote.

‘I read your book when it first came out. What a man and keep doing whatever you are doing. All the best mate you’re an inspiration,’ another added.

Others praised Barry’s character long before cancer entered his life.

‘You were a champion before your diagnosis Barry, so this doesn’t come as a surprise. You are amazing in spirit, kindness, knowledge and all from a place of love,’ one supporter commented.

‘I loved you on TV, but I bet your greatest achievement of sharing your knowledge is even better than TV!’ another said.

Barry’s reflections echo sentiments he has previously shared about how adversity shaped his resilience long before his cancer diagnosis.

‘Early detection is a really important thing,’ he previously told Gold 101.7 hosts Brendan Jones and Amanda Keller.

‘If you’re not feeling that well physically, get it checked out. Get that blood test. An early blood test is one of the reasons I am here 16 years later.’

The diagnosis came after years of profound personal hardship, including a devastating fall that left him with a broken back, repeated IVF heartbreak with wife Leonie, a miscarriage, and Leonie’s own battle with cervical cancer.

Barry has spoken candidly about spiralling into depression during that period, admitting he once saw emotional pain as a weakness he had to carry alone.

But it was through those earlier struggles, he says, that he developed the emotional tools that helped him face an incurable cancer diagnosis without collapsing.

‘So, when I got my diagnosis – incurable cancer, three months to live – I didn’t fall apart,’ Barry previously wrote.

‘I knew that from leaning into the previous adversities of life I had the resilience to give the fight of my life.’

Today, Barry focuses on what he can control – mindset, movement, connection and compassion for himself – while continuing his long-term battle with cancer.

And if his latest message is anything to go by, it’s that learning to slow down, regulate and be gentle may be the strongest survival skill of all.