BBC News Presenter Maryam Moshiri Reveals She Has Incurable Blood Cancer

BBC News presenter Maryam Moshiri has disclosed that she is battling blood cancer. The 49-year-old anchor shared her diagnosis in order to raise awareness about the disease. Moshiri was diagnosed with polycythaemia vera (PV), a rare blood cancer that cannot be cured but can be effectively managed. PV causes the body to produce an excess of red blood cells, leading to thicker blood and an increased risk of blood clots, which can result in stroke, heart attack, or deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Symptoms can be subtle, often going unnoticed until they become severe.

Moshiri's diagnosis was made after her GP noticed an anomaly in routine blood tests and referred her for further testing. She underwent weekly venesection procedures over five months to reduce the thickness of her blood, which left her feeling extremely fatigued, losing hair, and experiencing itchy skin. After undergoing immunotherapy treatment, she now requires venesection only once every 15 months and is feeling significantly better than she did two years ago.

Despite the challenges, she continues to travel the world for BBC news, anchoring from various locations, including Qatar and Greenland. Moshiri credits her supportive family, husband Jonathan, and children for their understanding and encouragement throughout her journey. Blood Cancer UK's CEO, Helen Rowntree, praised Moshiri for bravely sharing her story, highlighting the importance of raising awareness about blood cancer, which is the UK's fifth most common cancer and third biggest cancer killer.