Deborah James, podcaster and cancer campaigner, breaks tragic news to followers: ‘No-one knows how long I’ve got left’ | Ents & Arts News

Popular podcaster Deborah James has been moved to hospice-at-home care to treat for her terminal bowel cancer after telling followers she does not know “how long I’ve got left”.

The presenter of the BBC podcast You, Me And The Big C said the previous six months had been “heartbreaking” to go through, but that she had been surrounded by “so much love” and had “no regrets”.

James was diagnosed with the condition in 2016 and since then has kept her nearly 300,000 Instagram followers up to date with her treatments, with candid posts about her progress and diagnosis.

On 14 December 2021, she marked five years since her diagnosis, writing on Instagram: “I’m fully aware I shouldn’t be alive to write this today.”

But in a new post on Monday, she said: “The message I never wanted to write. We have tried everything, but my body simply isn’t playing ball.

“My active care has stopped and I am now moved to hospice at home care, with my incredible family all around me and the focus is on making sure I’m not in pain and spending time with them.

“Nobody knows how long I’ve got left but I’m not able to walk, I’m sleeping most of the days, and most things I took for granted are pipe dreams.”

‘No regrets’

She added she had left “no stone unturned” in search of treatment, but that even a “magic new breakthrough” would not make a difference.

Sharing links to charities including Cancer Research UK, Bowel Cancer UK and the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, she asked supporters to make donations and “buy me a drink to see me out this world”.

She added: “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 x Deborah.”

You, Me and Big C had also been hosted by news presenter Rachel Bland. She died in 2018 after being diagnosed with breast cancer which spread to lymph nodes.