BBC Star Maryam Moshiri Reveals Secret Cancer Battle—She Worked 14-Hour Days Through “Horrendous” Treatment

BBC News presenter Maryam Moshiri has revealed that she has been privately living with an incurable form of blood cancer for nearly two years-even while viewers watched her report some of the world's biggest stories.

The 49-year-old mother of three was diagnosed with polycythemia vera, commonly known as PV, in November 2024. The rare cancer causes the bone marrow to produce too many red blood cells, making the blood abnormally thick and increasing the risk of blood clots, heart attacks and strokes. Although there is currently no cure, treatment can often manage it as a chronic condition.

Moshiri first learned something was wrong after her doctor ordered blood tests while monitoring symptoms associated with menopause. The results led to a diagnosis that would quietly transform her life with regular hospital visits, medication and exhausting treatment.

Yet viewers had no idea what was happening behind the scenes. Moshiri continued appearing on BBC News and traveling to major assignments while undergoing procedures in which blood was regularly removed to lower her red-cell concentration. At one stage, she required the procedure approximately twice a month and said it left her feeling extremely unwell.

Her most remarkable assignment came when she traveled to Rome and worked 14-hour days covering the death of Pope Francis while battling chronic fatigue. She later reported from Doha during the Iran conflict, once again keeping her health crisis largely out of public view.

"I love what I do. I love being where the story is," Moshiri told The Times, insisting that she does not want blood cancer to end her career. The Independent

The presenter subsequently began interferon immunotherapy at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. Although it reduced her need for frequent blood removal, she described the side effects as "horrendous," including insomnia, headaches and severe itching that caused her to scratch until she bled. She has since changed medication and says the new side effects are more manageable.

The most painful part of the ordeal, however, was telling her children. After seeing their normally energetic mother return from work and collapse from exhaustion, they asked the question every parent dreads: "Are you going to die, mummy?"

Moshiri has admitted there were days when she was too exhausted to play football with her son or participate fully in family life. She now faces the reality that hospital appointments and medication will remain part of her life indefinitely.

The revelation presents a very different picture of the broadcaster best known to many viewers for her lively personality-and the viral 2023 moment when she was accidentally caught making a middle-finger gesture as the cameras went live. Behind those memorable appearances, Moshiri was carrying a frightening diagnosis that the public knew nothing about.

She is now supporting Blood Cancer UK's Here for This campaign, which highlights the everyday moments people can lose while living with blood cancer. Her disclosure is also intended to encourage greater awareness and funding for treatments with fewer debilitating side effects.

Moshiri's cancer is incurable, but that does not mean she is terminally ill. With continuing treatment, PV may be controlled over the long term-and the presenter has made it clear she intends to remain both on television and at the center of the stories that matter.