BBC News presenter Maryam Moshiri has announced her diagnosis with polycythaemia vera (PV), a rare and incurable form of blood cancer. Doctors informed her of the condition last November.
Polycythaemia vera, which affects around 8,000 individuals in the UK, is treatable but cannot be cured. It is associated with a heightened risk of blood clots, potentially causing a stroke, heart attack, or deep vein thrombosis.
Moshiri described experiencing symptoms such as headaches, blurred vision, fatigue, night sweats, and burning pain in her hands and feet. She noted that the fatigue could be profound, feeling "like someone had taken your batteries out."
Initially, Moshiri took daily aspirin and underwent regular venesections to lower her red blood cell count. While these treatments were effective, they also led to exhaustion. She later switched to Pegasys, a weekly injection, which she stated still caused fatigue but had proven effective.
Moshiri shared her diagnosis to raise awareness for the charity Blood Cancer UK, highlighting what she perceives as misconceptions about blood cancer, often seen as a "silent or hidden" condition.