BBC News presenter Maryam Moshiri revealed that she has been quietly undergoing treatment for Polycythaemia vera, an incurable blood cancer, for nearly two years. Despite gruelling treatments involving blood removal and heavy fatigue, the 49-year-old broadcaster has continued anchoring major international live broadcasts.
Here is the kicker. While managing a rare bone marrow condition that forces her body to produce excess red cells, thickening her blood like honey, Moshiri boarded flights to Rome, covered high-stakes global events, and fronted rolling news coverage without missing a beat.
The Bottom Line
- The Diagnosis: Moshiri was diagnosed with Polycythaemia vera nearly two years ago following a routine menopause-related blood test.
- The Treatment: She underwent monthly phlebotomies—having over a pint of blood drawn—alongside immunotherapy treatments at London’s Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS trust.
- The Advocacy: The presenter is now championing the Blood Cancer UK “Here for This” campaign to shed light on what sufferers miss out on during treatment.
Balancing High-Stakes Broadcasting and Chronic Illness
For television anchors operating in the white-hot glare of live rolling news, physical endurance is part of the job description. But the math tells a different story when adrenaline meets an incurable condition. Moshiri, who presents The World Today on BBC News, initially learned of her illness when routine blood work flagged abnormalities. Polycythaemia vera causes the bone marrow to continuously generate red blood cells, which thickens the blood and elevates the risk of severe strokes, heart attacks, and blood clots if left unmanaged.
Treatment exacts a heavy physical toll. Moshiri endured monthly procedures where medical staff extracted over a pint of her blood to dilute red blood cell concentrations. That process left her feeling profoundly sick and exhausted. Yet, shortly after the diagnosis, she boarded a flight to Rome to cover the death and ensuing conclave of the Pope. Working 14-hour days on air, she relied on the sharp focus of live broadcasting to push through chronic fatigue.
“When you’re doing live news, you have this rush of adrenaline, and you just have to get on with it,” Moshiri shared with The Times in an interview published over the weekend. She later transitioned from early aspirin and immunotherapy—which brought intense side effects like insomnia, headaches, and severe itching—to more manageable drug regimens.
The Human Cost Behind the Camera
Public-facing media figures rarely drop the mask while managing chronic health battles. But Moshiri opened up about the personal sacrifices demanded by intensive medical routines, particularly regarding her three children, Iris (13), Vivienne (11), and Caspian (9), whom she shares with LatinNews editor-in-chief Jonathan Farmer.
When she first broke the news to her family, her children’s immediate, heartbreaking question was whether she was going to die. During the worst phases of her treatment, simple parental moments vanished. “I’d be lying on the sofa, and my son would say, ‘mummy, can you come play football with me in the garden?’ And you just can’t.”
Refusing to let the diagnosis sideline her career, Moshiri insists that a primary coping mechanism is simply getting on with life.
Understanding Polycythaemia Vera in the Media Spotlight
| Clinical Feature | Details & Patient Impact |
|---|---|
| Condition Type | Rare, incurable blood cancer (Polycythaemia vera) affecting bone marrow. |
| Average Onset & Survival | Typically diagnosed around age 60, with average survival rates ranging from 14 to 24 years depending on age at diagnosis. |
| Primary Treatments | Phlebotomy (blood removal), aspirin, and targeted immunotherapy drugs like interferon. |
| Advocacy Partnership | Supporting Blood Cancer UK’s “Here for This” campaign highlighting missed moments in patient lives. |
Helen Rowntree, chief executive of Blood Cancer UK, praised the broadcaster’s candor. Noting that blood cancer stands as the UK’s fifth most common cancer and third biggest cancer killer, Rowntree emphasized that public figures speaking out help pierce the isolation felt by thousands of patients. For Moshiri, bringing visibility to the condition is as vital as anchoring the evening bulletin.
We want to hear from you—how do you view the responsibility of public figures sharing personal health battles while maintaining demanding careers? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
