BBC News presenter Maryam Moshiri has disclosed that she is living with an incurable form of blood cancer.
Moshiri, 49, was diagnosed almost two years ago with Polycythaemia vera (PV), a rare disorder in which the bone marrow keeps producing too many red blood cells, causing the blood to thicken to a honey-like consistency.
While the cancer has no cure, it can often be controlled as a long-term chronic condition. If left untreated, however, PV can increase the risk of blood clots, heart attacks and strokes.
Ms Moshiri told The Times that the demanding treatment “is better than dying, obviously, of a horrible cancer. But it’s something that you have to get your head around,” adding that its impact builds over the years.
The broadcaster, who has also drawn attention for several memorable on-air moments, including accidentally raising her middle finger during a live bulletin, said her condition was first picked up through a blood test linked to menopause.
After the diagnosis, she underwent monthly blood draws of more than a pint at a time to reduce the concentration of red blood cells — a process that left her feeling nauseous and drained.
Soon afterwards, she was sent to Rome to report on the Pope’s death and the conclave that followed.
“I was working 14-hour days, constantly on air, constantly having to think on my feet, and holding it together, despite the fact that I had this chronic tiredness and fatigue,” she said.
Maryam Moshiri was diagnosed nearly two years ago with with Polycythaemia vera, a rare condition that causes bone marrow to continuously create red blood cells
Ms Moshiri said the gruelling treatment ‘is better than dying, obviously, of a horrible cancer. But it’s something that you have to get your head around’
But she clarified she does not want her diagnosis to get in the way of her work, adding that ‘a big part of this disease is having to get on with life’.
On her return, she began an immunotherapy treatment at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS trust in London called interferon, which reduced the amount of blood that needed to be drawn.
However, she said she suffered debilitating side effects, like insomnia, headaches and such intense itching she would draw blood from her scratching.
‘During my worst times when I was going through really quite gruelling treatment, I wasn’t there for my kids. I’d be lying on the sofa, and my son would say, “mummy, can you come play football with me in the garden?” And you just can’t. You’re too tired,’ she said.
She added that the first question her children, Iris, 13, Vivienne, 11, and Caspian, 9, that she shares with LatinNews editor-in-chief Jonathan Farmer, asked when she told them of her condition was whether she was going to die.
Some months later, she switched to a different drug which had more manageable side effects but admitted to having to adjust to a different lifestyle that will be occupied by hospital appointments and medication.
Ms Moshiri is now supporting a new campaign Here for This, by Blood Cancer UK, which highlights the moments sufferers can miss due to the condition.
Helen Rowntree, chief executive of the charity, told The Times: ‘We’re so grateful to Maryam for bravely sharing her story. When public figures speak openly about their diagnosis, it cuts through the silence that so often surrounds blood cancer – the UK’s fifth most common cancer and third biggest cancer killer.
‘We urgently need continued public and government support to fund the next generation of kinder, more effective treatments with fewer side effects so that more people with blood cancer can live well, spend less time dealing with the impact of treatment and be there for the moments that matter.’
Ms Moshiri first caused shock waves in December 2023 when she gestured her middle finger at the camera before reading out the top of the hour headlines.
In an extended video released after the slip up, Ms Moshiri was seen making a series of exaggerated gestures with her hands before reaching ‘one’ and appearing to ‘flip off’ the camera.
The veteran presenter said the gaffe was a ‘private joke’ with crew and issued an apology after the end of the clip was broadcast live.
Since then, she has suffered several other on-air gaffes, like imitating a seagull against her producer’s advice, bending a spoon in relation to a man crushing a frying pan, and jogging on the spot while presenting a segment on daily step-count.
