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🇷🇴 Romania /Health & Science

BBC presenter reveals incurable blood cancer: “It is something you learn to live with”

From Adevărul · () Romanian

Translated from Romanian and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Context piece
  • Maryam Moshiri, a 49-year-old BBC News presenter and mother of three, says she has polycythemia vera, a rare blood cancer that causes the bone marrow to produce too many red blood cells.
  • Treatment has included monthly blood removal and medication, with side effects including exhaustion, insomnia, headaches and severe itching.
  • Moshiri says the illness and treatment have affected her family life, but she continues to work and adapt to a chronic condition that cannot currently be cured.

For nearly two years, Maryam Moshiri has continued working while undergoing exhausting treatment for an incurable blood cancer. The 49-year-old BBC News presenter and mother of three has polycythemia vera, a rare condition in which the bone marrow produces too many red blood cells.

It is better than dying.

· Maryam MoshiriMoshiri described the difficult treatment she undergoes for polycythemia vera.

The disease thickens the blood and, without treatment, can raise the risk of serious complications including blood clots, heart attacks and strokes. Doctors diagnosed Moshiri after blood tests. For a time, they removed more than half a litre of blood each month to reduce the concentration of red blood cells and lower the associated risks.

The procedure left her feeling unwell and extremely tired. Soon after her diagnosis, however, she travelled to Rome to report on the Pope’s death and the conclave that followed. Moshiri said she worked up to 14 hours a day, remaining live on air and reacting immediately despite chronic fatigue and exhaustion.

I was working 14-hour days, constantly live, always having to react on the spot and cope, despite having this chronic fatigue and exhaustion.

· Maryam MoshiriShe recalled reporting from Rome soon after her diagnosis.

After returning from Rome, she began treatment with interferon, an immunotherapy drug. It reduced the amount of blood doctors needed to remove, but brought difficult side effects, including insomnia, headaches and intense itching. At times, she scratched herself until she caused wounds and began to bleed. She later changed to another medicine whose side effects proved easier to tolerate.

A large part of this illness is about carrying on with your life.

· Maryam MoshiriShe explained how she has adapted to hospital appointments and medication as part of her routine.

Moshiri told The Times that the treatment, although difficult, “is better than dying.” She said much of living with the illness involved continuing with ordinary life, while hospital appointments and medication became part of her routine. She also described the strain on her family. During the hardest periods, she could not play with her children as much as she wanted. Her nine-year-old son once asked, “Mummy, can you come and play football with me in the garden?” She said she was too exhausted to join him.

Mummy, can you come and play football with me in the garden?

· Moshiri's sonMoshiri recalled a moment when treatment-related exhaustion kept her from playing with her child.
About this summary

Originally published by Adevărul in Romanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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