BBC podcast host Deborah James, who has incurable bowel cancer, has said she has stopped active treatment for her disease and moved to hospice care at home
BBC podcaster Deborah James, 40, has shared a sad post reporting she has moved to hospice
The mother-of-two, who lives in London, has been engaging stage four gut malignant growth for a long time
Her new cause store, Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK, has outperformed £600,000 in gifts
The previous appointee head instructor shared the update message with fans on Instagram recently
She said she was ‘principally dozing’, saying:
‘We have taken a stab at everything, except my body essentially isn’t getting it done’
Deborah proceeded to uncover she would spend her last days encompassed by ‘fantastic family’
Malignant growth stricken BBC webcast have Deborah James says she has been moved to tears after her raising money drive – sent off close by an unfortunate ‘farewell’ message – soared to more than £700,000 in under 24 hours.
The previous appointee head instructor turned malignant growth campaigner, 40, who has won applauses with her BBC 5 Live digital recording ‘You, Me and the Big C’, said she was ‘totally amazed by’ the liberality of the people who had supported the gathering pledges drive.
The mother-of-two, who has been residing with stage four entrail disease since she was analyzed in December 2016, reported the ‘Bowelbabe Fund’ for Cancer Research yesterday while additionally uncovering she was being moved into hospice-at-home consideration.
She shared a profound Instagram post yesterday saying ‘no one knows how long she has left’ and composing: ‘The message I never needed to compose. We have taken a stab at everything, except my body basically isn’t making a move.
‘My dynamic consideration has halted and I am currently moved to hospice at home consideration, with my amazing family surrounding me and the emphasis is on ensuring I’m not in torment and investing energy with them.’
Be that as it may, today, in another post commending the endeavors of the individuals who upheld the pledge drive, which as of 8am on Tuesday remained at more than £770,000, she composed: ‘I never in my most extravagant fantasies thought we’d be awakening to this complete 24 hours after the fact. I’m really crying!
In one more post about the GoFundMe page, she added: ‘I’m completely amazed by your liberality throughout the course of recent hours!
‘To think you have raised over £600,000 for fundamental exploration is simply filling me with such a lot of adoration. You are the most considerate individuals. Much obliged to you.’
Her most recent virtual entertainment posts comes after recognitions poured in for the ‘gallant’ BBC digital recording host following her terrible ‘farewell’ message.
Accolades poured in for the mother-of-two yesterday, with fans and associates commending her work bringing issues to light of inside malignant growth and aiding ‘break the disgrace’ of the ‘Large C’.
Her web recording co-have, Lauren Mahon, shared an extended accolade on Instagram, saying that hearts have been ‘broken into large number of pieces’ by Deborah’s declaration and are all the while ‘totally overflowing proudly’.
Toward the beginning of the year, Deborah, who shares her kids Hugo, 14, and Eloise, 12, with her significant other Sebastien, reported she had ‘almost kicked the bucket’ in emergency clinic, calling it the ‘hardest’ part of her 5-year malignant growth fight, and was conceded as an in-patient recently.
She was let from the beginning in her analysis know that she probably won’t live past five years — an achievement that passed on Christmas of 2021.
‘But even with all the innovative cancer drugs in the world or some magic new breakthrough, my body just can’t continue anymore.’
‘In over 5 years of writing about how I thought it would be my final Christmas, how I wouldn’t see my 40th birthday nor see my kids go to secondary school – I never envisaged writing the one where I would actually say goodbye.
‘I think it’s been the rebellious hope in me.’
Tributes to Deborah called her a ‘true inspiration’ and a ‘force to be reckoned with’ when it came to talking about bowel cancer.
Her podcast co-host, Lauren Mahon, shared a lengthy tribute on Instagram, saying that hearts have been ‘shattered into thousands of pieces’ by Deborah’s announcement and are simultaneously ‘completely bursting with pride’.
Ms Mahon said that she is ‘not ready to accept what’s happening right now’ and asked for people to keep Deborah’s parents, siblings and family in their ‘hearts, thoughts and prayers’.
She also urged people to support the new fundraising campaign, Bowelbabe Fund, for Cancer Research UK.
Philip Counsell tweeted: ‘Deborah James, as been a complete legend, for raising awareness for Bowel Cancer and raising millions. I have followed her journey in fighting it five years ago. What as been the overriding theme is absolute stoicism to fighting it. I am so proud of her, and family.’
Val Hill said in a tweet: ‘DeborahJames has been a force to be reckoned with when it came to Bowel Cancer & breaking the stigma associated with this condition. Please donate to this important charity in her name if you can.’
‘One of the bravest, most courageous people I am ever likely to come across. Someone who made every second count and continues to inspire many thousands of people. Sending much love to you and your lovely family. Thank you for being you,’ tweeted Emma Santer.
Sarah Mortiboys commented: ‘This is so very sad & upsetting to read. I have followed Deborah James’ cancer journey for years…and now we have reached the final chapter. To celebrate her life & the contribution she continues to make please donate via the link below.’
‘The energy Deborah James has put in to changing the conversation around cancer, chemo & death won’t be forgotten. What an amazing legacy she will leave behind. Lots of love to her family & friends,’ tweeted Ally Farrell.
Continuing her own Instagram post, Deborah said: ‘ I don’t think anyone can say the last 6 months has exactly been kind! It’s all heartbreaking to be going through but I’m surrounded by so much love that if anything can help me through I hope that will.’
She went on to share news of a ‘Bowelbabe fund’ which is being set up in her name, writing: ‘I always knew there was one thing I always wanted to do before I died.
‘As a result, the @bowelbabefund is being established and I’d love nothing more than for you to help it flourish. Please visit bowelbabe.org for all the info and to donate (link in Bio).’
It has since raised more than £617,500 in less than 24 hours after it was launched, and will be spent on funding clinical trials and research into personalised medicine that could result in new treatments for cancer patients, and continued support to raise awareness of cancer.
Deborah continued in her social media post: ‘All I ask if you ever read a column, followed my Instagram, listened to the podcast or saw me dressed as a poo for no reason.
As she finished the post, she wrote: ‘Right now for me it’s all about taking it a day at a time, step by step and being grateful for another sunrise.
‘My whole family are around me and we will dance through this together, sunbathing and laughing (I’ll cry!!) at every possible moment!
‘You are all incredible, thank you for playing your part in my journey. No regrets. Enjoy life. Deborah.’
It’s been a difficult year so far for the mother-of-two, who spent much of the last six months receiving in-patient treatment in hospital.
She has spent months recovering after she almost died in January due to a medical emergency.
In January, she said the ‘trauma’ of nearly dying was still ‘very raw and real’ as she returned home after three weeks in hospital.
Posting on Instagram earlier this year, the mother-of-two spoke of enduring the ‘hardest, most heartbreaking and scariest’ period of her cancer battle in the last week, which has involved three operations and ‘a lot more procedures’ to come.
She told how her husband watched as doctors fought to save her life after she ‘crashed’ in resuscitation.
‘A week ago at this time in the evening I nearly died in what was an acute medical emergency,’ she wrote. ‘I’m not ready to discuss what happened yet as the trauma of it all has been incredibly intense – but it’s thanks to an unbelievable team of NHS specialists who worked all through the night and the next day to save me.
Sharing a photo of her giving a thumbs up from a hospital bed, she continued: ‘This is me yesterday having just come round from my 3rd operation this week. I have another operation tomorrow.
‘In 5 years of having stage 4 Cancer – this has been the hardest, most heartbreaking and scariest of them all. I’d always prepared for my death, but I wasn’t prepared for something so blindsiding and traumatic to happen.
‘I can’t quite believe I’m here to write this. A week ago my whole family was praying I’d pull through the night. I’m getting a lot of help and support to come to terms with the trauma I’ve been through.
‘My family have been incredible. I don’t know how my husband held it together seeing me crash as an army of doctors stabilised me in resus.’
After thanking followers for their support, she added: ‘Do me a favour and go tell your loved ones how much you love them. To realise in a sudden split moment that you are unlikely to see the next day is utterly heartbreaking. Have no regrets.’
Discussing how difficult the last six months have been, James said while she was really happy that the ‘big gun chemo’ she endured has slowed her cancer’s growth, which had been ‘on the march’, it had been an exhausting time.
In the summer, James was told she had an aggressive new tumour that had wrapped itself around her bile duct – requiring a life-saving stay in hospital – and a stent fitted to stop her liver from failing.
The stent fitted to stop her liver failing ‘stopped working’ in December.
She explained to her followers at the time how hopes at having a ‘quick replacement operation’ had turned into a ‘nightmare’.
She said: ‘I’m now at the mercy of hopefully some super ‘magic medicine miracle’ – but then I always have been, and any chance is a chance right?
‘All I ever say Is all I want is hope and options.’
Last year, James shared that her cancer, which has been kept at bay by pioneering treatment, was back again and she was forced to endure a 12th operation.
The West London mother-of-two, a deputy head, was diagnosed ‘late’ with incurable bowel cancer in 2016. She has frequently said that as a vegetarian runner, she was the last person doctors expected to get the disease.
After sharing her experiences on living with the disease on social media, Deborah became known as the ‘Bowel Babe’ and began writing a column for the Sun.
In 2018, Deborah joined Lauren Mahon and Rachael Bland to present the award-winning podcast You, Me and the Big C on Radio 5 Live.
Bland tragically died of breast cancer on September 5th that year; her husband Steve Bland now co-presents the show.
HOW DEPUTY HEAD TURNED SOCIAL MEDIA STAR HAS TRANSFORMED BOWEL CANCER AWARENESS
- In December 2016, the West London mother-of-two, a deputy head, was diagnosed ‘late’ with incurable bowel cancer
- After sharing her experiences on living with the disease on social media, Deborah became known as the ‘Bowel Babe’
- In 2018, she became one of three presenters on Radio 5 Live’s You, Me and the Big C, which was conceived by her late co-host Rachael Bland
- On September 5th 2018, Welsh journalist and presenter Bland, diagnosed with terminal breast cancer, died at the age of 40
- Deborah and her co-host Lauren Mahon continue to present the show, with Steve Bland, Rachael’s husband, joining the duo
- On social media and in her column for the Sun newspaper, Deborah has documented the many chemo, radiotherapy sessions and surgery she’s had since
- In 2019, she had a procedure known as CyberKnife, a highly targeted form of radiotherapy to attack an inoperable lymph node close to her liver
- The pandemic’s impact on cancer services saw her campaign for care to continue as normal and, earlier this year, she launched the ITV’s Lorraine’s ‘No Butts’ campaign, raising awareness on bowel cancer symptoms
- Since last year, she has been taking new experimental drugs as part of a trial after her oncology team gave her the green light to do so
- August, Deborah revealed that scans she’s had in recent days have revealed her cancer has gone in the ‘wrong direction very quickly’
- She told followers she would be taking a break on social media over the weekend to ‘snuggle’ with her family ahead of more scans
- The mother-of-two said a new ‘rapidly-growing’ tumour near her liver had wrapped itself around her bowel
- On October 1, Deborah celebrates her 40th birthday
- By October 18, the mother-of-two told her followers her chemotherapy is working
- Days later, she was rushed to A&E with ‘spiking 40 degree temperatures’
- In November, she reveals she is unable to walk for more than 20 minutes and remains ‘very weak’
- By December, Deborah said she was ‘not sure what her options were’ after her liver stent ‘stopped working’
- In January, she had five operations in 10 days after nearly dying in an acute medical emergency
- January 25, Deborah returns home from hospital after three weeks
- March 14, the mother-of-two is back in hospital as an in-patient after suffering from septic infection
- In April, she concerned fans with snaps after suffering ‘a rough few days’
- April 14, the mother-of-two tells fans she has been discharged from hospital but calls the situation ‘very tough’
- April 27, she tells Lorraine that she has spent ’80 per cent’ of the year in hospital
- May 9 – Deborah announces she has moved to hospice care
Leave a Reply