Dame Deborah James admits she feels ‘surreal’ as she continues to defy the odds

Dame Deborah James says it feels ‘surreal’ to be on the front pages of UK newspapers.

The 40-year-old, who is being cared for at home with end-of-life colon cancer, made headlines this week after taking what she calls a “milestone” trip to Ascot with her brother – but found she couldn’t the top had managed pages of many of the UK’s biggest newspapers, including the Daily Mirror, “bonkers”.

Sharing a video on her Instagram story, she wrote: “I’m finding this front page thing crazy today.

“I mean, I’m still excited and always pleasantly surprised by all of this! But it’s also quite surreal, I have to say!”

The podcaster, known online as Bowel Babe, shared a photo of herself with her brother Benjamin and his new fiancée on Instagram after spending a day at the races on Wednesday.

Beaming in the snaps, which she wore in a navy blue dress with white polka dots and a large woven hat, she captioned them: “Yesterday was really special as with a lot of effort and help I actually made it to @ascotracecourse one more time.

“I honestly have to pinch myself for feeling well enough every day to do something like this. Another favorite I had on my mind and a fabulous milestone to say ‘is not dead yet!’”

The host of the BBC podcast You, Me And The Big C thanked Ascot for helping to make the experience “seamless and attainable” for her.

She also revealed that she picked three straight winners at the event, which made her “jump from the ceiling.”

Dame Deborah, who is still surviving her life expectancy diagnosis, added that amidst the activity she’s still “living herself in limbo and not really knowing what the future holds and for how long”.

The activist, who was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016, has been attracting attention for years and has raised more than £6.7million for Cancer Research UK, Bowel Cancer UK and the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity through her Bowelbabe fund on JustGiving.

In a recent episode of E4’s Embarrassing Bodies, she encouraged people to “smash taboos” associated with bowel movements because it can “save lives” by helping people spot colon cancer symptoms.

During the episode, which was taped while Dame Deborah was still in the hospital, she encouraged viewers “not to be ashamed of it” and to realize the importance of monitoring your bowel movements.

She said: “We all poop, our favorite stars poop! Let’s break down somehow, shatter these taboos, because honestly, this will save lives. Let’s spread the word.”

Last month, Dame Deborah announced that she has written another book, How To Live When You Could Be Dead, in which she documents what she’s learned about staying positive when faced with life’s biggest challenges .

Although the book wasn’t due for release until August, pre-orders shot it to number one on Amazon’s list, with her royalties going to her Bowelbabe Fund.

The podcast host followed suit by launching a clothing line, In The Style, 100% of whose profits benefit the cancer charity.

She was also honored with a dame’s dignity by the Duke of Cambridge at her home for her “tireless campaigning”.