BBC News presenter Maryam Moshiri has revealed she has been diagnosed with an incurable blood cancer.
The 49-year-old journalist was diagnosed with polycythaemia vera (PV), a rare form of blood cancer, in November 2024 and has been receiving treatment since then.
PV causes the bone marrow to continuously produce red blood cells, thickening the blood.
I have incurable blood cancer, BBC News presenter Maryam Moshiri says https://t.co/StrWGg5dYb
— The Times and Sunday Times (@thetimes) September 6, 2026
Moshiri, in an interview with The Times, said: "It is going to be there until the day I die.
"A big part of this disease is having to get on with life."
Her initial treatment involved venesection or phlebotomy, a process where nearly a pint of blood is drawn from a vein to lower red blood cell concentration.
She required the procedure about twice a month.
Later, she began immunotherapy with interferon, which reduced the need for venesection but came with severe side effects, including insomnia, headaches and intense itching.
Moshiri said: "I was itching until I was bleeding through to my clothes, I have scars all over my stomach from the itching."
After a few months, she was able to switch to a different medication with fewer side effects.
Despite her diagnosis and ongoing treatment, she has continued to work, including leading the BBC’s coverage of Pope Francis’ death from Rome.
Moshiri said: "I was working 14-hour days, constantly on air, constantly having to think on my feet, and holding it together, despite the fact that I had this chronic tiredness and fatigue.
"When you’re doing live news, you have this rush of adrenaline, and you just have to get on with it."
While she described the adjustment to a life filled with hospital appointments and medication as challenging, she said it was preferable to the alternative.
Moshiri said: "That is better than dying, obviously, of a horrible cancer.
"But it’s something that you have to get your head around."
Writing on Instagram, Moshiri said she was grateful for the opportunity to “shine a light on my blood cancer in hope it will help others”.
She wrote: “I’m supporting Blood Cancer UK’s campaign ‘Here for This’ to highlight the moments people with blood cancer can miss because of gruelling treatments, side effects or time spent in hospital, while also celebrating the milestones and moments that research and better treatments make possible.
“I’m glad to be in a place to share my story.
"Thanks to my consultants, my family, my friends, my work and everyone who has supported me these last two years.”
Moshiri encouraged others affected by blood cancer to seek support from Blood Cancer UK, which offers a helpline on 0808 2080 888.
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