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Dame Deborah James made her final TV appearance on Thursday to speak about her heartbreaking colon cancer diagnosis and deliver a life-saving message.
The 40-year-old journalist was discharged from hospital last month with doctors giving her just days to live and did not think she would live to see the episode of Embarrassing Bodies she aired on E4.
Cared for at the end of her life at her parents’ home in Woking, Deborah has so far exceeded doctors’ expectations – and inspired the nation with her will to make the most of her final days.
On the show, Deborah spoke openly about her diagnosis and the illness she has been living with for the past five years, telling GP Tosin Ajayi-Sotubo that it was the “last thing she expected” when she was just 35 at the time was years old.
(Image: Channel 4)
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She also spoke about the early signs of colon cancer and how she wanted to dispel the notion that it was a “disease of old age” – which she believed to be correct before her diagnosis.
By speaking openly about her illness, she hopes to help others who may be in a similar situation and inspire people to seek advice.
Deborah said: “I started pooping eight times a day — we have to say that. And I used to be a once a day girl.
“Then I got really tired and I remember drinking loads of cups of coffee just to try to keep myself awake.
(Image: Channel 4)
“Then I started losing a ton of weight and I started having blood in my poop.”
In conversation with GP Dr. Tosin told Deborah that that was the moment she “had a gut feeling something was wrong” and needed to get it checked out.
She went on to tell viewers that “talking about poop should never be taboo” and that “our favorite celebrities poop,” so there’s no reason we shouldn’t be talking about it more.
(Image: Channel 4)
As part of the program, Dr. Tosin to Hammersmith in London to educate people about the color of chairs and when to see a GP.
Ahead of the show, Deborah wrote on her Instagram Story on Thursday, “I taped this a while ago with the Embarrassing Bodies team but it’s out tonight.”
This week the lady shared her joy at being able to relive Royal Ascot, although she is still alive having left her in ‘limbo land’.
(Image: Deborah James Instagram / Getty)
She said on Instagram: “I live in limbo and don’t really know what the future holds and for how long.
“It’s a very stressful, uncertain place because when I was discharged from the hospital over a month ago I was given days, maybe a week, to live. And I wanted it.
“But as we all know, life doesn’t go according to plan, so I’m just grateful for the extra time that those in power have given me. So despite the unnerving tears I look up at the sun and smile and think wow life is a funny thing isn’t it!! Enjoy it better!
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