BBC News presenter Maryam Moshiri has disclosed she has been diagnosed with an incurable form of blood cancer. Speaking to The Times, Moshiri revealed she has been receiving treatment for polycythaemia vera (PV) since her diagnosis in November 2024.
What is polycythaemia vera?
PV is a rare form of cancer that causes the bone marrow to relentlessly produce red blood cells, resulting in thickened blood. “It is going to be there until the day I die,” the 49-year-old told the publication. “A big part of this disease is having to get on with life.”
Her initial treatment required a procedure known as venesection, or phlebotomy, approximately twice monthly, during which nearly a pint of blood is extracted through a vein to lower the concentration of red blood cells.
Treatment and side effects
The mother-of-three subsequently started an immunotherapy treatment called interferon, which reduced the frequency of venesections needed but brought “horrendous” side effects, including sleeplessness, headaches and itching that felt like it was “coming from inside” her body.
“I was itching until I was bleeding through to my clothes, I have scars all over my stomach from the itching,” she explained. Following several months, Maryam, who went viral several years ago for giving a lewd hand gesture by accident live on air, managed to transfer to a different medication with milder side effects.
Working through treatment
Moshiri has maintained her work commitments throughout her treatment, including spearheading the BBC's coverage of the death of Pope Francis from Rome. She said: “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.”
“When you're doing live news, you have this rush of adrenaline, and you just have to get on with it.” Moshiri revealed that while “adjusting to a different life” has proved difficult, a future “punctuated by hospital appointments and loads of medication” is preferable to the alternative.
“That is better than dying, obviously, of a horrible cancer,” she said. “But it's something that you have to get your head around.”
Public message and campaign support
Posting on Instagram, Moshiri expressed her gratitude for the chance to “shine a light on my blood cancer in hope it will help others”. She wrote: “I'm supporting Blood Cancer UK's campaign 'Here for This' to highlight the moments people with blood cancer can miss because of gruelling treatments, side effects or time spent in hospital, while also celebrating the milestones and moments that research and better treatments make possible.
“I'm glad to be in a place to share my story. Thanks to my consultants, my family, my friends, my work and everyone who has supported me these last two years.” She added: “@BloodCancer_UK are here for everyone affected by blood cancer, whether it's leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma, MDS or like me, MPN. If you'd like to speak to someone, their support line is 0808 2080 888, or head to their website for more information.”
