BBC podcast host Deborah James, who has incurable bowel cancer, shared a heartbreaking “goodbye” message after moving to a hospice with her family.
The 40-year-old former deputy head teacher, a cancer fighter from London, has been living with stage IV bowel cancer since she was diagnosed in December 2016, and was told early that she may not live more than five years. – a cornerstone that passed in the autumn of 2021.
Earlier this year, the mother of two, who shared her children, Hugo, 14 and Eloise, 12, with her husband, Sebastian, said she had “almost died” in hospital, calling it the “hardest” part of her 5-year-old battle with cancer and was admitted to hospital earlier this month.
She shared an Instagram post earlier tonight that said “no one knows how much time she has left”, writing: “The message I never wanted to write. We tried everything, but my body just doesn’t play with a ball.
“My active care has stopped and I am now transferred to a hospice at home, with my amazing family around me, and the focus is on making sure I’m not in pain and spending time with them.”
BBC podcast host Deborah James, who has incurable bowel cancer, said she had stopped actively treating her illness and moved to hospice care at home.
In an emotional post shared on Instagram earlier tonight, Deborah said her body “doesn’t play ball” and she spends “most of the day asleep”
The mother of two, who has been battling cancer for five years, said she was surrounded by her “amazing” family at home (pictured with her children)
Deborah and her husband Sebastian Bowen in April 2019. The mother of two said she left no stone unturned when it came to her treatment
She continued: “No one knows how much time I have left, but I can’t walk, I sleep most days and most of the things I took for granted are incredible dreams. I know we haven’t left a stone unturned.
“But even with all the innovative cancer drugs in the world or some new magical breakthrough, my body just can’t go on any longer.”
“After more than 5 years of writing about how I thought it would be my last Christmas, how I would not see my 40th birthday or see my children go to high school – I never imagined writing this where I will actually say goodbye.
“I think this is the rebellious hope in me.
The mother of two, who faces a challenging six months of cancer treatment, said she felt “heartbroken”
HOW DEPUTY SHELL TURNED ON A SOCIAL MEDIA STAR TRANSFORMED AWARENESS OF BOWEL CANCER
In 2018, Deborah (left) joined Lauren Mahan (front) and Rachel Bland (right) to present the award-winning podcast You, Me and the Big C on Radio 5 Live. Bland tragically died of breast cancer on September 5 of that year; her husband Steve Bland is now co-presenting the show
- In December 2016, the mother of two children in West London, deputy director, was diagnosed “late” with incurable bowel cancer
- After sharing her life experience with the disease on social media, Deborah became known as the “Baby in the Gut.”
- In 2018, she became one of the three hosts of Radio 5 Live’s You, Me and the Big C, which was conceived by her late host Rachel Bland
- On September 5, 2018, the Welsh journalist and presenter Bland, diagnosed with terminal breast cancer, died at the age of 40
- Deborah and her co-host Lauren Mahan continue to present the show, with the duo joined by Steve Bland, Rachel’s husband.
- On social media and in her column for the Sun, Deborah has documented the many chemo, radiation and surgeries she has undergone since
During her treatment, Deborah told her Instagram followers, “Because of my general lack of presence here (I’m dancing!), Things have moved (in the wrong direction) very quickly with regard to cancer.” Pictured: Deborah James undergoes a scan at Royal Marsden Hospital in London
- In 2019, she had a procedure known as CyberKnife, a highly targeted form of radiation therapy to attack an inoperable lymph node near her liver.
- The pandemic’s impact on cancer services has led to its normal care campaign, and earlier this year it launched Lorraine’s ITV’s “Assless” campaign, raising awareness about the symptoms of bowel cancer.
- She has been taking new experimental drugs since last year as part of an experiment after her oncology team gave her the green light to do so.
- In August, Deborah revealed that the scans she had done in recent days showed that her cancer had gone “in the wrong direction very quickly.”
- She told her followers that she would take a break on social media over the weekend to “hug” her family before the scan.
- The mother of two said a new “fast-growing” tumor near her liver had wrapped around her gut.
- On October 1, Deborah celebrates her 40th birthday
- By October 18, the mother of two told her followers that her chemotherapy was working
- Days later, she was rushed to A&E with “high temperatures of 40 degrees”
- In November, she revealed that she could not walk for more than 20 minutes and remained “very weak”.
- By December, Deborah said she was “not sure what her options were” after her liver stent “stopped working”.
- In January, she underwent five surgeries in 10 days after nearly dying in an emergency room
- On January 25, Deborah returned home from the hospital three weeks later
- On March 14, the mother of two was hospitalized again after suffering from a septic infection
- In April, she harassed her fans with photos after suffering “several difficult days”
- On April 14, the mother of two told fans she had been discharged from hospital, but called the situation “very difficult.”
- On April 27, she told Lorraine that she had spent 80 percent of the year in hospital
- May 9 – Deborah announces she has moved to a hospice
“But I don’t think anyone can say that the last 6 months have been exactly good! It’s all heartbreaking, but I’m surrounded by so much love that if anything can help me survive, I hope it will.
She went on to share news of the Bowelbabe Fund, which is being created in her name, writing: “I always knew there was one thing I always wanted to do before I died.
“Over the years, I have always collected as much information and money as possible for the charities that are closest to me. @cr_uk @royalmarsden @bowelcaceruk.
“As a result, @bowelbabefund is being created and I would like nothing more than for you to help it thrive. Please visit bowelbabe.org for all information and donate (link in bio). ‘
The mother of two also announced the news that she is launching a fund in her name to help others suffering from similar illnesses.
Deborah continued, “All I’m asking is if you’ve ever read a column, followed my Instagram, listened to a podcast, or seen me dressed like poop for no reason.
“Please buy me a drink to see me in this world by donating the cost to @bowelbabefund, which will allow us to raise funds for further life-saving cancer research. To give Deborah more time!
As she finished publishing, she wrote: “Right now, for me, it’s all about taking it every day, step by step, and being grateful for another sunrise.
“My whole family is around me and we will dance through it together, sunbathe and laugh (I will cry !!) at every possible moment!
“You are all amazing, thank you for playing your part in my journey. No regrets. Enjoy life. Deborah.
The mother of two spent months recovering after nearly dying in January due to emergency medical care
BBC podcast host Deborah James, who has incurable bowel cancer, revealed in April after being discharged from hospital after more than a month. Pictured leaving Royal Marsden Hospital
This has been a difficult year so far for the mother of two, who has spent much of the last six months in hospital.
She spent months in recovery after nearly dying in January due to emergency medical care.
In January, she said the “trauma” of near-death was still “very severe and real” as she returned home after three weeks in hospital.
Posting on Instagram earlier this year, the mother of two talks about enduring the “hardest, most heartbreaking and scariest” period of her battle with cancer in the last week, which includes three surgeries and “many more procedures” forthcoming.
She told how her husband watched doctors fight to save her life after she “crashed” in intensive care.
Deborah, who has incurable bowel cancer, revealed she “almost died” in January in an “acute medical emergency.” She shared this photo from the hospital
“A week ago at that time in the evening he almost died in an emergency room,” she wrote. “I’m still not ready to discuss what happened, because the trauma of it all was incredibly intense – but it’s thanks to an amazing team of NHS specialists who worked all night and the next day to save me.
“I could not be more grateful. I am still not out of danger and I still have many procedures to deal with. But now I am out of intensive care. And for the first time, I felt able to inform you briefly.
Sharing a photo of herself squeezing her thumbs from the hospital bed, she continued: “This is me yesterday, who just came from my third operation this week. I have another operation tomorrow.
Posting on Instagram, the mother of two said she has endured the “worst, most heartbreaking and worst” period of her battle with cancer in the last week, which includes three surgeries and “many more procedures” to come.
BOWEL CANCER: SYMPTOMS YOU SHOULD NOT IGNORE
Colon cancer, or colorectal cancer, affects the colon, which consists of the colon and rectum.
Such tumors usually develop from precancerous growths called polyps.
Symptoms include:
- Bleeding from the bottom
- Blood in the stool
- A change in bowel habits lasting at least three weeks
- Unexplained weight loss
- Extreme, inexplicable fatigue
- Stomach ache
Most cases have no clear cause, but people are more at risk if:
- They are over 50
- You have a family history of the condition
- I have …
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