BBC Host Deborah James’ Meaningful Quotes About Her Health Journey Ahead of Entering Hospice Care

Credit: S Meddle/ITV/Shutterstock

BBC Host Deborah James' Meaningful Quotes About Her Health Journey Ahead of Entering Hospice Care

After being diagnosed with bowel cancer, Deborah James has used her platform to educate others about the ups and downs of her health journey. James, 40, who shares son Hugo, 14, and daughter Eloise, 12, with husband Sebastien Bowen, previously revealed that she was cancer free following a three-year battle with the life-threatening stage 4 diagnosis. "It's a bit bonkers (and I haven't honestly processed this for a few reasons), but right now, I have no evidence of cancer in my body!!. Which seems bonkers considering at one stage I had 15 tumours!" she wrote via Instagram in 2020. As the cancer returned, the BBC podcast host used social media to highlight her happiest moments alongside updates about her health. "I very much 'live with' cancer. I hope I’m a lot more than just my diagnosis - this isn’t an account 'just' about cancer. It’s about Celebrating the moments between," James, who started "You, Me and the Big C" in 2018, wrote via Instagram in January 2022. "I like to celebrate life. It’s all about taking it a day at a time! Step by step and being grateful for another sunrise." Following a nearly six-year battle, James revealed that she was entering hospice care after continuous visits to the hospital. "I don’t think anyone can say the last 6 months has exactly been kind! It’s all heartbreaking to be going through but I’m surrounded by so much love that if anything can help me through I hope that will," she noted in May 2022. "In over 5 years of writing about how I thought it would be my final Christmas, how I wouldn’t see my 40th birthday nor see my kids go to secondary school - I never envisaged writing the one where I would actually say goodbye. I think it’s been the rebellious hope in me." At the time, James admitted that she was "absolutely mind blown" by the love that she received online. "I just cannot thank people enough for their generosity. It just means so much to me," James told BBC that same month, noting that her fundraising reached new highs. "It makes me feel utterly loved. But it makes me feel like we're all kind of in it at the end together and we all want to make a difference and say, 'You know what? Screw you cancer.' You know, we can do better." James noted that she hoped her honesty on social media inspired more people to support cancer research. "We can do better for people and we just need to show it who's boss," she continued. "Over the last five years I've campaigned, I've spoken about awareness, I've shared my story for a reason — the laughs, the giggles, sharing that you can live with cancer, unveiling what cancer can look like. But ultimately what I really want to happen is I don't want any other Deborahs to have to go through this. We know that when we catch cancer early, we can cure it." Scroll down for James' inspiring quotes about her health and approach to life: [podcast_block]

Credit: S Meddle/ITV/Shutterstock

BBC Host Deborah James' Meaningful Quotes About Her Health Journey Ahead of Entering Hospice Care

After being diagnosed with bowel cancer, Deborah James has used her platform to educate others about the ups and downs of her health journey. James, 40, who shares son Hugo, 14, and daughter Eloise, 12, with husband Sebastien Bowen, previously revealed that she was cancer free following a three-year battle with the life-threatening stage 4 diagnosis. "It's a bit bonkers (and I haven't honestly processed this for a few reasons), but right now, I have no evidence of cancer in my body!!. Which seems bonkers considering at one stage I had 15 tumours!" she wrote via Instagram in 2020. As the cancer returned, the BBC podcast host used social media to highlight her happiest moments alongside updates about her health. "I very much 'live with' cancer. I hope I’m a lot more than just my diagnosis - this isn’t an account 'just' about cancer. It’s about Celebrating the moments between," James, who started "You, Me and the Big C" in 2018, wrote via Instagram in January 2022. "I like to celebrate life. It’s all about taking it a day at a time! Step by step and being grateful for another sunrise." Following a nearly six-year battle, James revealed that she was entering hospice care after continuous visits to the hospital. "I don’t think anyone can say the last 6 months has exactly been kind! It’s all heartbreaking to be going through but I’m surrounded by so much love that if anything can help me through I hope that will," she noted in May 2022. "In over 5 years of writing about how I thought it would be my final Christmas, how I wouldn’t see my 40th birthday nor see my kids go to secondary school - I never envisaged writing the one where I would actually say goodbye. I think it’s been the rebellious hope in me." At the time, James admitted that she was "absolutely mind blown" by the love that she received online. "I just cannot thank people enough for their generosity. It just means so much to me," James told BBC that same month, noting that her fundraising reached new highs. "It makes me feel utterly loved. But it makes me feel like we're all kind of in it at the end together and we all want to make a difference and say, 'You know what? Screw you cancer.' You know, we can do better." James noted that she hoped her honesty on social media inspired more people to support cancer research. "We can do better for people and we just need to show it who's boss," she continued. "Over the last five years I've campaigned, I've spoken about awareness, I've shared my story for a reason — the laughs, the giggles, sharing that you can live with cancer, unveiling what cancer can look like. But ultimately what I really want to happen is I don't want any other Deborahs to have to go through this. We know that when we catch cancer early, we can cure it." Scroll down for James' inspiring quotes about her health and approach to life: [podcast_block]

Credit: S Meddle/ITV/Shutterstock

More Than Her Diagnosis

"I’ve been living with Cancer for 5 years, but I hope I’m more than cancer. Sometimes it amazes me, STILL, that people have a view on what Cancer people should say, how they should act and what they should talk about," she wrote via Instagram in January 2022.

For the F*** You Cancer author, living with health issues meant continuing to celebrate her accomplishments.  

"I think at times it can be forgotten that the biggest challenge and celebration is to weave real life through Cancer — despite how hard it might be to do so. Sometimes I fear, that once tarnished with the Cancer brush, there is an expectation that forever more one should only talk about cancer," she continued. "That people forget the emotional toll that might take. The historical years of talking, writing about every topic related to it. I love more than anything when I see accounts of people living with cancer — celebrating living!"

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Celebrating the Important Things

In February 2022, James revealed that she made it to "a massive milestone" in her journey. "I re-started active treatment after over 5 months of hoping and praying and not quite making the previous windows," she shared on social media, later reflecting on the other joys in her life. "Sometimes, we might get highly frustrated at our situation, but then if we were to stop and realise that it’s the little things (such as watching your daughter smash it as lacrosss, and getting to be 'that sideline mum') is actually a world away from anything I could have imagined doing last month in a hospital room."

She added: "I was reminded this week (thanks @claire.singer), to 'Enjoy the little things in life, because one day you will look back and realise they were the big things.'"

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Pushing Ahead

Amid complications, the former professor got candid about working through obstacles with her diagnosis.

"I’m aware I’ve been quiet on here recently but the last week especially has pushed me to use every ounce of energy to find the strength to get through each day and get home. I’ve been in hospital for a month and 2 days, and I cannot tell you how hard it’s been, both mentally and physically to get through this," she admitted in April 2022 via Instagram. "It’s pushed me to limits I didn’t think existed despite my previous stays."

James continued: "But for now I just wanted to say thank you for all the incredible messages, the kind and thoughtful gestures, the virtual hug of support that has blown me away since I’ve been in hospital. I’ve got challenges ahead of me, like always, but for now I get the weekend with my family and that Is the best thing I could ever ask for." 

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Heartbreaking Update

In May 2022, James took to social media to share a somber update about her next steps.

"The message I never wanted to write. We have tried everything, but my body simply isn’t playing ball. My active care has stopped and I am now moved to hospice at home care, with my incredible family all around me and the focus is on making sure I’m not in pain and spending time with them," she wrote. "Nobody knows how long I’ve got left but I’m not able to walk, I’m sleeping most of the days, and most things I took for granted are pipe dreams. I know we have left no stone unturned. But even with all the innovative cancer drugs in the world or some magic new breakthrough, my body just can’t continue anymore."

Credit: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock

Making an Impact

Following an outpour of support, James opened up about her hopes for raising awareness and funds for cancer research.

"I always knew there was one thing I always wanted to do before I died. I have always over the years raised as much awareness and money for the charities that are closest to me," she explained via Instagram in May 2022, referring to her Bowelbabe Fund. "Right now for me it’s all about taking it a day at a time, step by step and being grateful for another sunrise. My whole family are around me and we will dance through this together, sunbathing and laughing (I’ll cry!!) at every possible moment! You are all incredible, thank you for playing your part in my journey. No regrets. Enjoy life."

The radio host raised more than one million dollars in one day. 

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Knowing Her Final Wishes

“I decided that I want to be at my parents' because as much as I love London, I can't even get up the steps to pee. It's kind of not practical. My parents live in a bungalow so I can see greenery and my whole family can come here,” James recalled during the final episode of her “You, Me & The Big C: Putting the Can in Cancer” podcast, released on May 10, 2022. “It's kind of where I've always wanted to die. I kind of always had that in my mind.”

She added: “I think I always knew I didn't want to be at my London home. I think mainly, it doesn't feel right to me. There's nothing that I can describe that feels relaxing in that capacity. Don't get me wrong it's a lovely place, but I also think it's not where I can be. But it means the kids can go back there and they don't have this medical equipment, gauze, placed everywhere. It can continue to be their home without those memories, which might possibly be a good thing."

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Prince William and Duchess Kate Pay Their Respects

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge shared a rare personal note to James amid her cancer battle.

“Every now and then, someone captures the heart of the nation with their zest for life & tenacious desire to give back to society,” the pair tweeted in May 2022. “@bowelbabe is one of those special people. Her tireless efforts to raise awareness of bowel cancer & end the stigma of treatment are inspiring. We are so sad to hear her recent update but pleased to support the @bowelbabef, which will benefit the @royalmarsdenNHS among others.”

Their statement continued: “Deborah, our thoughts are with you, your family and your friends. Thank you for giving hope to so many who are living with cancer.”

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Leaning on Her Rock

In May 2022, the U.K. radio personality referred to Bowen as "her rock" in an Instagram post of the couple taking a stroll at the RHS Garden Wisley in England.

“Seb whisked me (bit of a mission but worth it!) at the crack of dawn to @rhswisley before all the crowds … to say [we’re] done for the book launch, and it was just perfect for a hour,” the podcast host gushed about the outing.

James also spoke of the light her husband brings to her life amid her battle with cancer. 

“I love this picture of reminding me of vibrant green life all around, despite the sadness of knowing the state of my body inside,” she captioned the post. “But Seb is an utter rock for me and together we seem to be able to squeeze our hands, swallow the tears and laugh instead.”