Entertainment
Victoria Derbyshire: ‘We should be incredibly grateful for all Dame Deborah James has done’-Rachael O'Connor-Entertainment – Metro
‘It’s brutal, it’s unfair and my heart breaks for her and her family.’
Victora Derbyshire has praised the ‘incredible’ Dame Deborah James for her fundraising and for raising awareness of bowel cancer (Picture: bowelbabe/Instagram / Dr Sukhs Waiting Room )
Victoria Derbyshire has praised Dame Deborah James for ‘all she has achieved’ since being diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2017.
Dame Deborah, 40, is currently under hospice care at home as active treatment is no longer possible.
The journalist was knighted in May after raising more than £6million for bowel cancer research through her Bowelbabe Fund, and was visited at home by Prince William.
BBC News presenter Victoria was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, for which she underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy and has been cancer-free since.
She is set to appear in new documentary film series The Waiting Room, presented by Dr Sukh, where she details her diagnosis and how the NHS saved her life.
Speaking to Metro.co.uk ahead of the launch of the documentary, Victoria said Dame Deborah is ‘incredible’ but watching her go through a terminal diagnosis is ‘brutal’.
‘It’s brutal what Deborah James is facing,’ she said.
Victoria is set to detail her cancer journey with the NHS on new documentary series The Waiting Room (Picture: Dr Sukh’s Waiting Room)
‘She’s incredible, but it’s brutal. It’s a reminder, I think, that cancer is unfair and it’s a lottery.’
Becoming emotional, Victoria went on: ‘It’s just brutal, brutal, there’s no other word for it.
‘It’s brutal, it’s unfair and my heart breaks for her and her family.
‘And yet, what she’s achieved in the last five years since her diagnosis, which is raising tons of money and raising awareness of bowel cancer, particularly in young people, is incredible.’
She added that ‘we should be forever grateful for that and for what she’s done.’
Victoria says we should be ‘forever grateful’ for what Dame Deborah has achieved (Picture: Instagram @bowelbabe)
Dame Deborah and the countless like her who have been affected by cancer have inspired millions across the country to continue raising money for cancer research.
As we spoke, Victoria was on her way to a Cancer Research UK event in London, ‘so scientists can carry on their vital work 24/7.
‘To try to keep finding new treatments, to try to find ways to detect cancer earlier, because obviously the earlier you find it the better your chances of survival.’
Victoria was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 (Picture: Dr Sukh’s Waiting Room)
The presenter underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which saved her life (Picture: Dr Sukh’s Waiting Room)
‘That’s why I’m taking part in this Cancer Research UK event, because they raise money for research – like Dame Deborah is doing through her Bowelbabe fund.’
New series The Waiting Room, presented by facial surgeon trainee Dr Sukh, sees interviews with the likes of Victoria as well as Ziauddin Yousafzai, father of Malala Youfsafzai, Louise Stewart, Sanjeev Bhaskar and more detailing their journeys with the NHS.
More: Trending
In Victoria’s interview, she recalls her life growing up in domestic abuse, her career, eventual cancer diagnosis and how she got through the lifesaving NHS treatment.
The Waiting Room film series launches on June 1.
Macmillan cancer support
If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with cancer, Macmillan can offer support and information.
You can contact their helpline on 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week from 8am to 8pm), use their webchat service, or visit their site for more information.
MORE : Dame Deborah James makes secret visit to Chelsea Flower Show to see rose named after her
Entertainment – MetroRead More
