BBC podcast host Deborah James, who has incurable bowel cancer, has said she feels ‘smashed to pieces’ as she continues her battle in hospital a week after nearly dying during ‘acute medical emergency’.
Former deputy head teacher and cancer activist, the 40-year-old Londoner has lived with stage 4 bowel cancer since December 2016. She was first diagnosed at age five.
In an Instagram picture, the mother of two can be seen lying on her bed in hospital.
The author penned that there were ‘a lot’ of tears for several days and said: “Today was one of those days when I feel like the world is going around in circles.” It’s the small things that break you sometimes when you are in hospital for too long.’
BBC podcast host Deborah James said that her incurable bowel cancer is making it difficult to live. She continues her fight in hospital, a week after being almost killed during an “acute medical emergency”.
She continued: ‘It’s the failed canulars, being unable to move freely, not feeling like you are making progress, the daily worry about each test, the daily analytics of every bodyily function.
“Wondering when you’ll get your break. That golden window to me getting treatment.
‘I’m just in a place where I’ve been able to get the big cracks together (just), but I realised as I started my day off sobbing at our lack of being able to get blood from me, that underneath I’m still smashed to pieces.
“Tomorrow is a new day. With that, we can find the strength to continue.”
She said that she wanted to continue her hospital stay and find strength to keep going (pictured).
The woman posted photos of wires and canulas. She said that there have been “a lot” of tears in the past few days.
However earlier today she updated fans to say that she had been told her bloods had ‘finally’ improved.
It comes after Deborah said she was ‘on the cancer rollercoaster’ earlier this week, writing: ‘A small bleed meant I ended up being rushed back into theatre having a colonoscopy and endocsopy within the hour to check for the source.’
‘It’s amazing how quickly crash teams work, and as much as I just want to be home (it’s now getting on to two weeks in hospital), it’s also nice to feel in a safe place when my body isn’t playing ball.’
Her post read: “Yesterday’s was the classic ride high then fall at the last corner! Positive blood tests, no drains (unlike this photo), and I was much more concerned about my hospital make-up stash than any other thing. Lippy and dry shampoo won!
‘Was feeling good (it’s all relative!) My liver count was FINALLY increasing (go liver !!).). Even my oncologist suggested that I could be home within a couple of days.
She said that things were downhill yesterday afternoon and added: “Praying today will not be unpredictable or stable!” Thank you for your love.
‘Either me or mum will update – it’s nice to have another source for updating you lovley lot.
She revealed earlier this week that she spent an “awful night” in hospital and was then rushed to theatre.
Deborah has an incurable form of bowel cancer and shared the story about how she almost died last week due to an acute medical emergency. This photo was taken at hospital.
“I have to tell you that my mother has made my day so much more enjoyable by showing me how to use Instagram in my hospital room. It’s certainly giving my family some well needed laughs!’
“We continue to go. Take one step at a given time. As a late friend said “I haven’t come this far to only go this far.’
It comes after Deborah’s mother shared an update on her daughter’s health yesterday on Instagram.
She said, “How she does this time after time blows my mind.” It’s early hours, but it went to plan. It was her intention to absorb the bile stent, if it was functioning.
Deborah the BBC’s podcast star mother said she underwent five operations in a matter of days following an emergency that almost cost her life.
‘Obviously now she’s kept under close monitoring but she’s really happy (and emotional) because she has no drains for the first time in weeks.
“We have to just pray that she stays stable in the future.” Due to the operation today, I was allowed to see her briefly as her nominated visitor – which I’m grateful for.’
Deborah had just filmed her walking along a hallway in a hospital. After nearly dying last week, she said that she was now ‘beyond broken’.
After suffering the most difficult, heartbreaking, and frightening week of her battle against cancer, She stated that she’s’making good progress’.
The mother-of-two was told early on that she might not live beyond five years – a milestone that passed in the autumn (pictured)
Sharing the video on Instagram, Deborah wrote: ‘Today I walked – it’s the first time in nine days I’ve been able to try.
‘It’s never been so hard to muster the strength and conviction to do so. I’ve had four operations this week (with more to come), am beyond shattered with a very weak body,’ she revealed.
Deborah can be seen wandering tentatively through a hallway in a hospital.
“But somehow, my body is still ploughing along. Sometimes, all that we can do is keep going step by step. The nurses and doctors are being incredible – I’ve cried on pretty much everyone that pops their head around the door,’ she went on in her post.
‘I’m making progress, it’s slow, but steady. I’m still being monitored very closely. No idea what the next plan is- it’s just taking things bit by bit.
‘It’s hard when you just want a plan, but the plan is really to try to get me better, whatever pathway that takes. My drains are to do with my bile duct – which they finally stented (well we are in the middle of that process), and acities, which I’ve had 10 litres drained already hence why I’m don’t look pregnant anymore,’ she explained.
Deborah, who had just completed her second week of difficult weeks, shared this video with us as she took her first steps in the hospital.
Sharing the video on Instagram, Deborah wrote: ‘Today I walked – it’s the first time in nine days I’ve been able to try.’
She shared her progress via Instagram with the podcaster and also updated her fans on her status.
On Friday, the mom-of-two posted on Instagram that the hardest, scariest and most difficult part of her fight against cancer had been over the past week. She has endured three operations as well as a host of other procedures.
Her husband sat with her as she recounted how doctors tried to save her after she had ‘crashed in resuscitation’.
She wrote that she nearly died a week ago in an emergency medical situation. I’m not yet ready to share what happened because the trauma was intense. However, the incredible NHS team who worked tirelessly the next morning to save me made it possible.
“I could not be more grateful. But I am still in danger. I also have many more procedures. I’m out of intensive medical care. For the first time, I was able to update you briefly.
After sharing a picture she shared of herself giving a thumbs-up from her hospital bed, she said: “This was me yesterday after I had my third operation in this week. Tomorrow I will have another operation.
“In my 5 years with Stage 4 Cancer, this has been the toughest, most heartbreakingly and scariest. While I knew I would die, it was a shock to learn that I wouldn’t be able to see the end of my life.
“I’m speechless. My entire family prayed that I would make it through the night a week ago. To deal with my trauma, I am receiving a lot support and help.
“My family are amazing. It was amazing to see my husband hold it together as I crashed and an army doctors stabilized me in resus.
Deborah, a new podcast about cancer, You, Me and the Big C, reveals that she needed to learn to walk again following being colitis-bound in December.
The mother-of-2 posted on Instagram overnight that she had endured the “hardest, hardest, most heartbreaking, and scariest” period in her battle against cancer. This included three operations as well as a lot more.
She thanked her followers and said, “Do me a favor. Go tell your family how much you love them.” The heartbreaking thing about realizing in one moment that you won’t see your family again is to be able to look at the future. Have no regrets.’
It comes days after Deborah returned to her popular podcast You, me and the Big C and revealed how she’d been ‘absolutely floored’ by ‘big gun chemo’ during the summer and then a serious infection at the year’s end – which saw her carried into a London hospital at 1am by her husband for treatment.
She told co-hosts Lauren Mahon and Steve Bland on the newest episode of the BBC podcast that she’d had to learn to walk again after being forced to remain in bed for almost a month.
“After colitis I had to learn to walk again, because there was so much fluid.
“I had been in bed for three weeks. Just learning to walk the length of the drive, or any other distance is impossible.
James spoke out about how hard the last six-months have been. Although she’s happy the “big gun” chemotherapy she had to endure has helped slow her cancer’s progress, she said it had been exhausting.
James was five years old when her 2016 diagnosis came up. This milestone was something she didn’t expect to reach. However, she had been admitted to hospital with infected colitis.
She shared that she was shocked by the transition from targeted therapy to chemotherapy.
“I’d say that my quality of living was horrible.”
She updated listeners about her current health status by saying: “Some days, I feel fine. My quality of life right now is okay. But I am not the same person that people know for the last four years. I don’t run around doing cardio every day.”
‘It’s just stable in a really b****y awkward place.’
Campaigner said that due to her decreased liver function and colitis she is unlikely to be eligible for clinical trials.
She confessed that she had been procrastinating about possible treatment options over the Christmas holiday.
James learned that her liver was failing from an aggressive tumor in the summer.
She received a stent to prevent her liver from failing in December.
At the time, she shared with her supporters how their hopes of a quick replacement had become a nightmare.
She explained that “I am now at the mercy omagic medicine miracle” – however, she said it was always my fate and there is no chance.
“All I have ever said is that all I desire are hope and possibilities.”
James announced in April her return to cancer. After a pioneering treatment she had been able to keep at bay, James was forced into a 12th procedure.
A West London mother of two, who was a deputy head in the West London Police Department, was later diagnosed with incurable bowel carcinoma.
Her frequent statements have been that she is the only person who doctors thought would get this disease because she has always run as a vegetarian.
Deborah started sharing her personal experiences with the disease through social media. She was called the “Bowel Babe”, and she began to write columns for the Sun.
Deborah joined Rachael Bland and Lauren Mahon to host the 2018 award-winning podcast You, Me and the Big C at Radio 5 Live.
Bland, who died tragically from breast cancer in September 2005, was co-presented by her husband Steve Bland.
In October, the former deputy head teacher of education celebrated her 40th Birthday. However, she admitted that she was unable to remember what it felt like for her after receiving ‘big guns chemo’ during summer.
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Deborah joined Lauren Mahon (front), and Rachael (right) in 2018 to host the radio show You, Me, and the Big C. Bland, who died from breast cancer in September 2005, was tragically killed. Steve Bland is now the co-host of the program.
- The West London mother of two, who was a deputy head in the West London police force, was later diagnosed with incurable bowel carcinoma.
- Deborah was the “Bowel Babe” after sharing her personal experiences with the disease via social media.
- 2018 was her first year as one of the presenters on Radio 5 Live’s You, Me and the Big C, an original concept by Rachael Bland, her co-host.
- Bland was 42 years old when she died from terminal breast cancer.
- Lauren Mahon, Deborah, and Lauren Mahon, her co-host, continue to host the show. Rachael’s husband Steve Bland joins the pair.
- Deborah documented her many radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgical sessions on social media, as well as in her Sun column.
Deborah shared with her followers via Instagram that she was unable to dance during treatment.It is clear that things are moving in the wrong direction cancerwise. Photo: Deborah James undergoes a scan at Royal Marsden Hospital, London
- CyberKnife is a high-targeted form of radiotherapy that targets inoperable lymph nodes close to her liver. It was performed by the woman in 2019.
- The pandemic’s impact on cancer services saw her campaign for care to continue as normal and, earlier this year, she launched the ITV’s Lorraine’s ‘No Butts’ campaign, raising awareness on bowel cancer symptoms
- After her oncology team approved her, she began taking experimental drugs in a clinical trial.
- Deborah shared with August that recent scans have shown her cancer is moving in the wrong direction.
- After delivering scans she informed her fans that she will be taking some time off social media for the weekend so she can’snuggle with her family’.
- Mother-of-two, Judith said that a new and rapidly-growing tumour had formed near her liver.
- Deborah turns 40 on October 1.
- On October 18, she informed her two-year-old daughter that chemotherapy had been successful.
- Days later, she was rushed to A&E with ‘spiking 40 degree temperatures’