Deborah James (journalist)
Bowel cancer | |
---|---|
Alma mater | University of Exeter |
Occupations |
|
Years active | 2017–2022 |
Known for | You, Me and the Big C |
Spouse |
Sebastien Bowen (m. 2008) |
Children | 2 |
Website | bowelbabe |
Dame Deborah Anne James
Personal life
James was born in Chertsey, Surrey on 1 October 1981 to Heather and Alistair James.[1][2] She attended Salesian School, Chertsey, later going on to study economics at the University of Exeter. Her mother was a gymnastics coach,[3] and James trained at Woking Gymnastics Club. By the age of nine, she was training 30 hours a week.[4] James married Sebastien Bowen in 2008; the couple had two children.[1][5]
Career, illness and death
James was a deputy head teacher specialising in
The Guardian described the podcast as unique for its "frankness, honesty and humour" and James as "its outrageous heart"; she was open about graphic details of her bowel cancer and once asked the Olympic swimmer Steve Parry whether he ejaculated twice or half as much after surviving testicular cancer.[3] In October 2018, she released her book F*** You Cancer: How to Face the Big C, Live Your Life and Still Be Yourself.[7][8]
In June 2021, after undergoing multiple treatments,
In her final days, James lived at her parents' house in Woking, Surrey, where she died on 28 June 2022, aged 40, from cancer.[22][23][24]
At the time of her death, her fundraising website bowelbabe.org had accumulated nearly £7 million to fund "clinical trials and research into personalised medicine for cancer patients and supporting campaigns to raise awareness of bowel cancer".[25] Her final message read:[25] "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."
Prime Minister
References
- ^ a b c "Deborah James interview: 'I don't want to be a victim… being a sob story won't change anything'". The Times. 20 January 2020. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
- ^ a b Rogers, Jude (29 June 2022). "Dame Deborah James obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
- ^ James, Deborah (12 April 2017). "A Big Dipper". bowelbabe. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
- ^ "Deborah James on living with bowel cancer during Covid: 'We mustn't forget about cancer patients'". The Times. 7 March 2021. Archived from the original on 29 July 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ "BBC presenter Rachael Bland's final podcast revealed after her death". Digital Spy. 13 September 2018. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ "Deborah James: how to live it up when you're dying". The Times. 9 July 2021. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ "Deborah James: 'We threw everything at COVID. Why can't we do the same for cancer'". The Daily Telegraph. 1 October 2021. Archived from the original on 15 February 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ "'Bowelbabe' explains new NanoKnife cancer surgery technique". Sky News. 7 May 2022. Archived from the original on 11 May 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ "Deborah James of You, Me and the Big C says her cancer is 'heading quickly in wrong direction'". The Times. 21 June 2021. Archived from the original on 26 July 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ "Deborah James: My body can't continue, says You, Me and the Big C podcast host". BBC News. 10 May 2022. Archived from the original on 10 May 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ "Deborah James, podcaster and cancer campaigner, breaks tragic news to followers: 'No-one knows how long I've got left'". Sky News. 10 May 2022. Archived from the original on 11 May 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ "'Nobody knows how long I've got left': Deborah James moves to hospice care after stopping bowel cancer treatment". The Independent. 10 May 2022. Archived from the original on 11 May 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ "Deborah James: cancer podcast host 'blown away' after followers donate £1m to research fund". The Times. 10 May 2022. Archived from the original on 11 May 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ "Bowelbabe cancer blogger Deborah James receiving hospice at home care". The Guardian. 10 May 2022. Archived from the original on 10 May 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ "Deborah James 'cannot thank people enough' after £2m raised for Bowelbabe Fund". The Guardian. 11 May 2022. Archived from the original on 10 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
- ^ "Deborah James: 'I want to die listening to my family, I want to hear the normal buzz of life as I go'". The Times. 11 May 2022. Archived from the original on 11 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
- ^ "No. 63727". The London Gazette. 13 June 2022. p. 11091.
- ^ "Deborah James made a dame by William at her home". BBC News. 13 May 2022. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
- ^ "Deborah James, host of Big C podcast, honoured with damehood". BBC News. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
- ^ "Court Circular, May 13–15 2022". The Times. 15 May 2022. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ "Dame Deborah James: Cancer campaigner dies aged 40". BBC News. 28 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ "Deborah James dies: Podcaster and cancer campaigner passes away aged 40". Sky News. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ "Podcaster Dame Deborah James dies of bowel cancer aged 40". The Guardian. 28 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
- ^ a b "Dame Deborah James: Tributes paid to 'unfalteringly brave' cancer campaigner". BBC News. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
External links
- Official website
- Deborah James at IMDb