BBC presenter Maryam Moshiri in heartbreaking 'rest of my life' admission after incurable cancer diagnosis

BBC presenter Maryam Moshiri in heartbreaking 'rest of my life' admission after incurable cancer diagnosis The BBC News presenter revealed that she was diagnosed in November 2024 Maryam Moshiri says she is finally understanding the physical and psychological impact of her incurable cancer diagnosis. The 49-year-old confirmed earlier this month that she had been diagnosed with polycythaemia vera (PV). PV - also known as erythrocytosis - is a rare blood cancer that causes your body to make too many red blood cells. There is no cure, although it can be managed and treated effectively. Only around 8,000 people in the UK have it, making it incredibly rare. Maryam revealed in an interview on BBC, she said she had spent a long time struggling to come to terms with the diagnosis. "I've been living with this for two years, and so I've managed to kind of get to a place where I understand its impact psychologically and physically on me," she explained. "And also, I guess, I'm ready to come out and talk about it to try and help people who may have the same diagnosis or may be living with something very similar, chronic condition. The prognosis is good as long as I stay on an even keel with the medication. You know, I could live for many decades like this." When asked how she had come to terms psychologically with the illness, she answered: "It's really hard. When you first get a diagnosis like this, Lucy, you, you know, you kind of feel sorry for yourself. "I remember going through a period of, 'Why me? Why has it happened to me?' But then also you feel kind of guilty because you're like, "Well, I have a chronic cancer, but I'm not going to die, you know? If I treat this cancer as it should be and get the right medical treatment, then I could live, you know, a pretty normal life'. "It's just knowing that for the rest of my life, I'm going to be under medical care." On living with the disease, Maryam admitted some days she feels "really not well". She said: "You feel really not very well, very tired, like someone's taken your battery out. And at that point, I think you hunker down, and you just think to yourself, 'This day will be over soon, and I'll feel better again.' "Because it's very much a disease where you'll have good times, bad times, periods where you're feeling well and periods where you are extremely unwell. And I think everyone's journey is different." Blood cancer symptoms Blood cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the UK, with over 40,000 people diagnosed each year. According to Dr Chun Tang, a GP at Pall Mall Medical, many cases are detected too late, often because the early signs are vague and easily overlooked. Currently, an estimated 250,000 people are living with the condition in the UK. Statistically, one in every 16 men and one in every 22 women will develop the disease in their lifetime. While many know that persistent fatigue, unexplained weight loss, and frequent infections can be signs of cancer, Dr Tang stresses that blood cancer often presents in much more subtle ways. “People tend to associate cancer with lumps or dramatic symptoms. But with blood cancer, you might just feel 'off', and that’s dangerous,” says Dr Tang. Lesser-known symptoms include night sweats, itchy skin, dizziness, or headaches, bruising easily or unusual bleeding such as gums or frequent nosebleeds. Shortness of breath and pale washed out looking skin are other indicators, too. “These symptoms can mimic other conditions like iron deficiency or even stress,” Dr Tang explains. “But if they persist, it’s crucial to get them checked.” Detecting blood cancer can start with a simple blood test. “Too many people blame tiredness on a busy life. We need to flip that thinking,” said Dr Tang. “If your body is sending you signals, listen.”