Bowel cancer campaigner Dame Deborah James dies aged 40

Cancer campaigner, blogger, broadcaster and former deputy head teacher, Dame Deborah James, has died of cancer.

Dame Deborah James. Credit: Instagram

Dame Deborah, a mother of two, was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016, aged 35. She became famous for her podcasting and journalism detailing what life was like living with cancer and raising awareness of the symptoms she was experiencing.

On 9 May she announced she was receiving end of life care at her family home in Surrey. She said: "The tweet I never wanted to write. The time has come to say goodbye. 5 years to prepare, doesn't make it any easy".

She passed away peacefully on 28 June surrounded by her family.

A statement announced by her family on her Instagram page under her handle of @bowelbabe said: “We are deeply saddened to announce the death of Dame Deborah James; the most amazing wife, daughter, sister, mummy. Deborah passed away peacefully today, surrounded by her family”.

Her family described her as an “inspiration” and “we are incredibly proud of her and her work and commitment to charitable campaigning, fundraising and her endless efforts to raise awareness of cancer that touched so many lives”.

Shortly before her death, she set up a fundraising page called Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK to raise money for bowel cancer.

It raised over one million pounds in less than 24 hours, surpassing her initial goal of £250,000. It has now raised nearly £7m.

On 14 May, in recognition of her fundraising, Dame Deborah was given a damehood personally delivered by Prince William where he visited her family home in Surrey to hand over the honour.

In an Instagram post, Dame Deborah said: "Prince William actually came to our family house today! It's quite surreal having a royal pop in at home, and yes you can imagine the cleaning antics and preparation went off the scale - but it was all irrelevant because William was so kind and he put us all at ease."

Dame Deborah also had a rose named after her and was invited to the Chelsea Flower Show to see it. In response, she said she hoped her "daughter Eloise, 12, may one day have it in her wedding bouquet”.

’Deborah was an inspirational and unfalteringly brave woman’

Members of the royal family, politicians and celebrities have taken to social media to pay tribute.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge said: “We are so sad to hear the heartbreaking news about Dame Deborah. Our thoughts are with her children, her family and her loved ones.

“Deborah was an inspirational and unfalteringly brave woman whose legacy will live on.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Twitter that she was an” inspiration to so many. Because of her, many many lives will be saved”.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “Even in the most challenging moments, she continued to raise awareness about bowel cancer and impacted so many people’s lives.”

Radio 1 presenter, Adele Roberts who was diagnosed last year with bowel cancer took to Instagram saying: “My heart hurts. Thank you for everything Deborah. Thank you for being so strong for so long and helping others when you were in so much pain yourself. You are the best of us”.

Bowel Cancer UK, of which Dame Deborah was a patron, said she had turned her bowel cancer diagnosis "into an incredible force for good" and would save countless lives through her campaigning.

TV presenter and Lorraine Kelly said: “Find a life worth enjoying; take risks; love deeply; have no regrets; and always, always have rebellious hope. And finally, check your poo – it could just save your life.”

’Check your poo’

Prior to her diagnosis, Dame Deborah worked as a deputy head teacher at two secondary schools in Surrey.

Dame Deborah receiving her knighthood pictured with Prince William at her parent's home in Surrey. Credit: Instagram.

Soon after she learned about her bowel cancer she began working as a journalist detailing her cancer journey in The Times and in March 2018, she began hosting the ‘You Me and the Big C’ podcast for the BBC alongside two other co-hosts living with cancer, Lauren Mahon and Rachael Bland.

During one of the podcast recordings, Dame Deborah wore a poo outfit that she had ordered online.

In May, during her final podcast, Dame Deborah said: "Check your poo. Come on. I can't leave on any other word apart from check your poo.

"I still have images of me dancing in poo outfits everywhere. So maybe I should leave on that final word. Check your poo”.

In October 2018, she released her book F*** You Cancer: How to Face the Big C, Live Your Life and Still Be Yourself.

Her second book, How To Live When You Could Be Dead, is due to be released on 18 August.

What are the symptoms of bowel cancer?

According to the NHS, the three main symptoms of bowel cancer are:

• persistent blood in your poo – that happens for no obvious reason or is associated with a change in bowel habit

• a persistent change in your bowel habit – which is usually having to poo more and your poo may also become more runny

• persistent lower, bloating or discomfort – that's always caused by eating and may be associated with loss of appetite and weight

Regular bowel cancer screening is available to everyone aged 60-74 and this programme is expanding to include everyone aged 50-59. This expansion is happening gradually over four years and started in April last year.

People in England aged 60-74 who are registered with a GP are automatically sent an NHS bowel cancer screening kit every two years.

If you are outside this age group, you should still be aware of what bowel cancer symptoms are and visit your GP if you have any concerns.