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Bowelbabe: Dame Deborah James reflects on her battle with cancer

Storyville documentary Deborah James: Bowelbabe In Her Own Words, brings together clips of the writer and broadcaster's bowel cancer journey and includes intimate family moments.

In this clip recorded shortly before her death last year, she reflects on how the disease she battled for so long had finally caught up with her.

If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this story, support and advice is available via BBC Action Line

11 April 2023

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Rachel Davies wearing a hospital gown and lying in a bed.

Welsh cancer patient denied life-extending drug

Riley smiles and holds a laptop screen with Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively on it.

Meeting Deadpool 'means everything' to boy, 9

A man with black glasses and a yellow jumper looks at the camera. He has black hair

'We caught my cancer early - that was key'

Northern Ireland

Young girl Betsy, wearing a puffer coat and holding her racehorse's face close to her.

Racehorse brings joy during girl's cancer journey

Endometriosis patient Lara Stevens believes the condition should be treated more urgently

Treat endometriosis more urgently, says patient

Janey Godley

'Who knows how long I'll be here?' - Janey Godley

Louis, William, Kate, Charlotte and George

Kate releases message after completing chemo treatment

Noah in his school uniform

Four-year-old cancer survivor starts school

Amy Dowden

Amy Dowden 'forever in fear of cancer returning'

London doctor Juhee Pahuja and her dance group

'I use dance to inform people about blood cancer'

A doctor carrying out a procedure in a hospital

Laser procedure treating bladder cancer patients

Maria

'I froze my eggs before I got chemotherapy'

Northern Ireland

Simon Boas speaking on Radio 4 Today programme

Simon Boas explains how cancer diagnosis helped him enjoy life more

Man with red boxing gloves on

'You can't give up, you've got to get up'

Northern Ireland

Lyndsey Ainscough on BBC Breakfast

How Dame Deborah James helped save a mum's life

Junior playing with his toys

Mum's warning after son's eye cancer diagnosis

Leyla Ozturk

'Football literally saved my life'

Molly Fenton, founder of Love Your Period

Women told alternative treatments could risk health

Patsy Cohen and Lucy Owen

Lucy Owen on how her mum ignored test and got cancer

outside of flat

Cancer survivor says she was hounded for flat fees

A woman in a hospital gown grins on the left and a monitor lit up with lungs is on the right of a split screen.

Woman gets first double lung transplant done by robot

The surgical feat was performed on a New York medic who says she got her 'life back' because of the procedure.

Heston Blumenthal wearing a blue shirt and black frame glasses

'It's not all doom' - Heston Blumenthal on bipolar diagnosis

The celebrity chef announced he was diagnosed with the mental health condition earlier this year.

Zachary with his mum and dad

'We can't give up hope for our wee boy'

The parents of a toddler waiting for a liver and bowel transplant are pleading with parents to have the conversation about what they would do in the same situation.

Graeme Souness sits on the red BBC Breakfast sofa beside Isla Grist

Watch: Graeme Souness pays tribute to 'determined cookie' living with rare skin condition

Former footballer Graeme Souness joins Isla Grist to discuss their work fighting the rare skin condition epidermolysis bullosa (EB).

Michael Mosley and Professor Paul Bloom

Watch: Michael Mosley's last interview

Watch: A clip from Michael Mosley's last recording at the Hay Festival in May

Woman using sunbed (stock photo)

It's 'crazy' to use sunbeds - skin cancer expert

A dermatologist warns sunbed users they are "paying" to expose themselves to cancer risks.

Marjorie Taylor Green and Anthony Fauci

'You're mister, not doctor': Fauci grilled by Taylor Greene

Marjorie Taylor Greene challenged the US' former top doctor, who also got emotional during his testimony.

People affected by infected blood products in the BBC studio

'It's in black and white, there's no hiding anymore'

Relatives and victims of the infected blood scandal tell BBC Breakfast how they feel about the inquiry's findings.

Su Gorman

Su Gorman gives evidence at the Infected Blood Inquiry

Su Gorman, the wife of Steve Dymond, gives evidence at the Infected Blood Inquiry.

Gill Castle giving interview

I will carry legacy from traumatic birth - Alnwick mum

Gill Castle was left with irreparable damages from the traumatic birth of her son.

Destiny-Rae

Organ-sharing scheme gets kidney for five-year-old

A special organ-sharing scheme has, against the odds, found a new kidney for five-year-old Destiny-Rae.

Dr Hilary Cass, chair of the Cass Review

'Toxicity of gender debate' affecting treatment - Cass

The Cass Review makes 32 recommendations on how gender services for children and young people should operate.

Merope Mills

Martha's rule will save lives, says Merope Mills

The mother of Martha Mills, who died of sepsis because her symptoms were missed, speaks as new rules are announced.

UK Health Secretary speaking on BBC Breakfast

Health secretary asked if dental budget is lower

Victoria Atkins was pressed on the £200m investment in to dental services announced by the government today.

Gene editing graphic

Explainer: What is gene editing?

The BBC's Fergus Walsh explains what gene editing is and how it works.

Reporter Pria Rai in a beauty salon

Secret filming finds beauty salons selling unapproved skinny jab

Reporter Pria Rai investigates the black market in cut price 'skinny jabs'.

Unlicensed weight loss jab sold on social media

Unlicensed weight loss jab sold on social media

Doctors warn weight loss drugs from unregulated sources could contain potentially toxic ingredients

Marc walking

Parkinson's implant restores man's walk

A man with advanced Parkinson's has been helped to walk again with a special implant that stimulates nerves in his spine.

Rishi Sunak

Sunak's 15-year plan to 'transform' NHS workforce

The prime minister says the UK must "act now, for the long term" to protect the NHS.

The National Covid Memorial Wall

Watch: 'Within seven days, my mum was gone'

Bereaved families across the UK express their loss in a film shown to the Covid inquiry.