BBC Chief Presenter Maryam Moshiri Discloses Rare Blood Cancer Diagnosis

Maryam Moshiri, a chief presenter who joined BBC News in 2003, has publicly revealed her diagnosis of a rare, incurable blood cancer. The 49-year-old broadcaster decided to share her condition, polycythaemia vera, to raise public awareness of the disease, which was diagnosed in November 2024.

Characterized by the overproduction of red blood cells, this condition thickens the blood and significantly elevates the risk of strokes, heart attacks, and deep vein thrombosis. Although the cancer is incurable, it remains highly manageable with appropriate medical intervention, allowing patients to lead relatively healthy lives. Moshiri noted that she initially presented with virtually no symptoms, meaning the disease might have gone unnoticed without her GP's fastidious routine blood tests.

Her initial treatment regimen involved undergoing seven or eight debilitating sessions of venesection within a five-month period to reduce blood thickness. This process caused her iron levels to plummet, leaving her severely exhausted and suffering from hair loss and full-body itching. Fortunately, after transitioning to an NHS immunotherapy treatment called interferon, her condition has stabilized, requiring only a single venesection over the past fifteen months.

Despite battling profound fatigue—which she describes as feeling as though her battery has been entirely removed—Moshiri has continued anchoring major international stories. Over the last two years, she has reported from Qatar, covered the selection of the new Pope at the Vatican, and traveled to Greenland. She attributes her resilience to the unwavering support of her husband, Jonathan, her BBC managers, and her three children, Iris, Vivienne, and Caspian.