BBC News presenter Maryam Moshiri has revealed that she has been living with an incurable form of blood cancer for almost two years, sharing her personal battle for the first time as she continues to work in one of television’s most demanding news roles.

The 49-year-old journalist was diagnosed with polycythaemia vera (PV) in November 2024, a rare blood cancer that affects the bone marrow and causes the body to produce excessive amounts of red blood cells. The condition makes the blood thicker than normal and can increase the risk of serious complications, including blood clots, heart attacks and strokes.

Although PV cannot currently be cured, doctors can manage it through long-term treatment. Moshiri said accepting that the illness will remain part of her life has been one of the hardest emotional challenges.

She explained that the disease is something she will have to live with permanently, but she is determined not to allow the diagnosis to define her future or stop her from doing the work she loves.

The BBC presenter discovered she had the condition after undergoing blood tests connected to symptoms she was experiencing during perimenopause. Initially, she admitted she did not fully understand the seriousness of the diagnosis.

She described receiving the news during a period of life when she was already dealing with major changes — raising young children, watching older relatives age and going through hormonal changes — before suddenly having to face a chronic illness.

Following her diagnosis, Moshiri began regular venesection treatments, a procedure in which blood is removed from the body to reduce the concentration of red blood cells. She underwent the treatment roughly twice a month, but the process left her extremely tired and physically drained.

Despite struggling with severe fatigue, she continued working as a broadcaster and covering major international events.

One of the most challenging assignments came when she travelled to Rome to lead BBC coverage following the death of Pope Francis. During the trip, she worked long shifts, often spending around 14 hours a day reporting live while managing the effects of her condition.

Moshiri said that live broadcasting creates an intense atmosphere where journalists often rely on adrenaline to keep going, even when they are exhausted.

After returning from Rome, she started immunotherapy treatment with interferon under the care of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Trust in London. The medication helped reduce the need for frequent blood-removal procedures, but it also brought severe side effects.

She experienced problems including insomnia, headaches and intense itching that became so severe she scratched her skin until it bled. After several months, doctors changed her medication to another treatment option with more manageable effects.

Throughout her illness, Moshiri said she has received strong support from her colleagues at the BBC, allowing her to continue working while managing her health.

Earlier in her treatment journey, she reported from Doha, Qatar, during a period when missiles were launched towards the country. She recalled the physical exhaustion of working in a high-pressure environment while also dealing with uncertainty and disrupted sleep.

However, Moshiri said journalism remains her passion and that she feels fortunate to have a career she dreamed about since childhood.

The presenter, who lives in south London, is married to journalist Jonathan Farmer and is mother to three children: Iris, 13, Vivienne, 11, and Caspian, nine.

She also spoke honestly about how the illness has affected family life. During periods when treatment side effects were at their worst, she often lacked the energy to take part in everyday activities with her children.

She recalled moments when her son wanted her to join him outside to play, but she was simply too exhausted to move from the sofa.

When she explained her diagnosis to her children, their immediate concern was whether their mother was going to die — a question that highlighted the emotional impact of the illness on the whole family.

Moshiri is now supporting Blood Cancer UK’s “Here for This” campaign, which aims to raise awareness of blood cancers and highlight both the experiences people lose because of illness and the moments they are able to enjoy thanks to treatment advances.

She hopes that speaking publicly will encourage more conversations about blood cancer and help push for research into treatments that are more effective and have fewer side effects.

Reflecting on her new reality, Moshiri said one of the biggest adjustments has been accepting a future filled with medical appointments, medication and ongoing monitoring.

While she recognises that living with a chronic cancer diagnosis is difficult, she believes managing the condition is preferable to facing an illness that cannot be controlled.

Moshiri joined the BBC in 2003 and has become one of the network’s recognisable news presenters. She is also known for a viral moment in 2023 when she accidentally appeared to make an offensive hand gesture during a live broadcast, later explaining that it was part of an off-camera joke with colleagues.

Now, as she continues her career on screen, Moshiri hopes her story will remind others living with blood cancer that a diagnosis does not mean life has to stop.