BBC News Anchor Maryam Moshiri Reveals Incurable Blood Cancer Battle

BBC News presenter Maryam Moshiri has bravely shared her diagnosis with a rare and incurable form of blood cancer, polycythaemia vera (PV). Moshiri revealed that doctors informed her last November about the condition, which, while not curable, is treatable.

PV is a rare disease, affecting approximately 8,000 individuals across the UK. It carries a significant risk of blood clots, which can lead to serious health events such as strokes, heart attacks, or deep vein thrombosis.

Initially, Moshiri didn't experience prominent symptoms and wasn't concerned when advised to undergo blood tests.

"I thought: it can't happen to me," she recounted.

The reality of the diagnosis was a "cruel blow," especially understanding that while treatments were available, the cancer itself was incurable.

She described a range of debilitating symptoms, including persistent headaches, blurred vision, intense fatigue, night sweats, and a burning sensation in her hands and feet. The fatigue, in particular, was overwhelming, often leaving her feeling "like someone had taken your batteries out" after demanding workdays.

To manage the condition, Moshiri began a treatment regimen of daily aspirin and regular venesections, a procedure where blood is drawn from a vein to reduce red blood cell count. Although these treatments were effective in managing her PV, they also contributed to her ongoing exhaustion.

Moshiri highlighted the difficulties of her demanding job as a live news presenter while battling chronic tiredness.

When you do live news you get a rush of adrenaline, but I was doing long days under pressure while dealing with chronic tiredness,

she explained.

Recovering at home often meant hours "zonking out on the sofa." This personal struggle has led her to reflect on the widespread misconceptions surrounding blood cancer, often perceived as a "silent or hidden" illness.

Her revelation aims to shed light on PV and encourage greater awareness about blood cancers, emphasizing that not all battles are visible or involve traditional chemotherapy.

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