Latest news with #DameDeborahJames
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
James Van Der Beek colon cancer battle: 'I dismissed key symptom... don't make the same mistake'
Dawson's Creek heart-throb James Van Der Beek has told how he dismissed a tell-tale sign of his colon cancer because it 'didn't feel like a real symptom'. The actor, who lives in Texas, revealed in November that he had been diagnosed with colorectal cancer in August 2023, aged just 46. In a fresh interview this week, the now 48-year-old said a change in his bowel movements, a common sign of the condition, was the first indication something was amiss. Yet, he blamed it on coffee and cut out the hot drink to resolve the issue by itself. It was only when the symptom persisted that he got a colonoscopy. Test results soon revealed it was stage three cancer, meaning the disease had spread to his lymph nodes. The disturbing rise of colorectal cancer—also known as colon or bowel cancer—in under 50s has baffled doctors around the globe. The disease—which also claimed the life of Dame Deborah James at the age of 40—has surged by 50 per cent this age-group over the past three decades. Now, James is calling on people to recognise the little-known signs of the cancer and not to give up if they think something isn't right with their body. He told Business Insider: 'It didn't feel like a real symptom of anything. It wasn't anything that made me rush off to go get screened.' Prior to his diagnosis, he was invested in maintaining peak health, he added. 'I was doing everything, I was doing sauna, cold plunge, weightlifting, Pilates. I would dance and also do football training.' He balanced strength training with cardio and ate mostly organic food, 'doing all the biohacking things' to stay fit, he added. 'It [the diagnosis] really took a while to set in. The reality still sets in stages, there are so many unknowns.' But raising awareness of the condition has given him a sense of purpose throughout his ongoing treatment. 'I've learned a lot,' he added. 'If I can save anyone from having to go through this, that's magic.' There are around 44,000 cases of bowel cancer every year in the UK and 142,000 in the US, making it the fourth most common cancer in both countries. Symptoms often include changes in bowel movements such as consistent and new diarrhoea or constipation, needing or feeling the need to poo more or less frequently and blood in the stool. Stomach pain, a lump in the stomach, bloating, unexpected weight-loss and fatigue are among other signs. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should contact their GP for advice. Although the vast majority of bowel cancer diagnoses affect those aged over 50, rates in older age-groups has either declined or held stable while diagnoses in younger adults have risen by 50 per cent over the last 30 years. Cancer Research UK estimates that over half (54 per cent) of bowel cancer cases in the UK are preventable. Doctors have suggested obesity, antibiotic over-use, mobile phone radiation and even invisible particles of plastic in drinking water are potential triggers. However a growing number of experts are also pointing ultra-processed foods as a cause. Earlier this year James opened up again about his cancer journey as he marked his 48th birthday. In a video posted on Instagram, he told his 1.6 million followers the last year, 'has been the hardest of my life'. Labeling the clip 'What Cancer Taught Me,' he described how coming 'nose to nose with Death,' had helped him redefine who he is. 'When I was younger, I used to define myself as an actor, which was never all that fulfilling, and then I became a husband and it was much better and then I became a father and that was the ultimate,' he said. Being away from his family for treatment and living alone in an apartment had forced him to 'look my own mortality in the eye.' 'All of those definitions that I cared so deeply about were stripped from me,' the dad of six also said.
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Now give bowel cancer tests to EVERYONE from age 30, urge families hit by disease - as explosion in young cases continues of mystify doctors
Campaigners are calling for routine bowel cancer checks for younger adults amid a sharp rise in cases among the under-50s. A petition led by a grieving mother urging the NHS to lower the screening age from 50 to 30 has gathered nearly 10,000 signatures in just one month. For years Cheryl had suffered abdominal pain and bloating—symptoms doctors repeatedly dismissed. By the time she was diagnosed, in October 2024, it had already spread to her liver— and she died a few months later. In the UK, bowel cancer claims nearly 17,000 lives a year, with cases rising sharply among younger adults. It is the fourth most common cancer in the UK. Adults aged 50 to 74 in England are currently offered a free at-home bowel cancer test every two years. But research shows those born in 1990 - now just 35 - are almost two-and-a-half times more likely to develop the disease than those born in 1950. Margaret, from East Dunbartonshire, said: 'Cheryl was full of life and laughter, but because doctors thought she was too young to have cancer she is no longer with us. 'I will never forget when the doctor gave her the diagnosis, and said, "If I did not know your age, I would think this is a scan of an 80-year-old." 'It is so heartbreaking and unfair that she was dismissed by doctors. I want to make sure that this does not happen to anyone else.' Dame Deborah James, who died aged 40 after raising over £11million for bowel cancer research, helped spotlight the growing number of diagnoses in under 50s. She was diagnosed in 2016 at the age of 35, after initially being told her symptoms were likely due to stress - she was then a deputy head teacher - or irritable bowel syndrome. When the national screening programme was introduced in 2006, experts estimated it could prevent about 1,200 deaths annually. But with more than 2,600 people diagnosed each year before they reach screening age, campaigners say the system needs urgent reform. Professor Sir Neil Mortensen, chairman of the Oxford Colon Cancer Trust and a leading bowel cancer expert, acknowledged 'a clear rise' in cases among under-50s - but cautioned that, as numbers remain low, 'it would take a lot of testing to find a case'. He added: 'People should be given the option to request a test if they are under 50, just like those who are too old for the current screening programme. 'So if someone is predisposed to having a higher risk, like if they have a family history of the disease, then we would likely catch cases earlier.' Bowel cancer survivor Gemma Savory is backing the rollout of an optional screening programme. She was 35 when she began suffering from severe stomach pain and unexplained weight loss, shedding two stone. GPs reassured her she was 'too young' to have cancer, despite a family history of the disease. It wasn't until she was referred to hospital with vaginal bleeding, in 2014, that she was diagnosed with stage three bowel cancer. The cancer has since returned three times, although Ms Savory is now in remission. But repeated surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy have left her 'feeling weak', and she has been diagnosed with a blood disorder and kidney failure caused by the treatment. She is reliant on dialysis, and a recent tumour removal surgery led to her developing sepsis. 'The money being spent on keeping me alive could have been saved with a simple screening test,' said Ms Savory. A screening programme aims for the cancer to be detected at the earliest stage, as more than 90 per cent of people whose bowel cancer is caught then will live at least five years. Critics argue that testing people in their 30s may not be cost-effective, as the overall incidence of bowel cancer in this age group remains relatively low. There are also concerns about over-diagnosis - the detection of abnormalities that may never be harmful, and the anxiety and potential complications caused by unnecessary follow-up procedures. Nevertheless, experts say there is growing concern that young people are being diagnosed at the latest stage. Sir Neil said: 'Bowel cancer is still seen by many as something that only people in their 70s get, and that is not the case.' With under 50s not eligible for bowel cancer screening, experts suggest being aware of the common symptoms. They include changes in toilet habits, such as softer stools, diarrhoea or constipation. Other warning signs include going more or less often than usual, blood in the stool, or a feeling that you still need to go even after just going to the toilet.
The Sun
28-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
We choose to live our lives full of joy, love and hope for Deborah, say Dame Debs' parents 3 years after her death
LET'S raise £20million for Dame Debs. That's the rallying cry today from her family, on the third anniversary of the inspirational cancer campaigner 's death. 9 9 9 Heather and Alistair James tell The Sun: 'Wouldn't it be great if we could see the total raised for her Bowelbabe Fund surpass the £20million milestone? 'We know she would be over the moon at the idea, knowing that the money is going to help other people in her situation, giving them more precious time with their loved ones.' Sun columnist Dame Deborah James died on June 28, 2022, five years and seven months after she was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer. The Bowelbabe Fund, that she established five days after returning to her parents' home in Woking to die, now stands at more than £17million. In her final weeks, the mum-of-two called on people to donate the cost of a drink, 'to see me on my way'. And three years later, her parents are echoing that call. 'Let's all donate the cost of a drink, and raise a £3million toast to Deborah,' they said. 'What a wonderful way to remember her, and help continue the incredible work she started.' It's their daughter's staggering legacy and the seismic impact she had in her short life that inspires the couple each and every day. 'This is not what we had planned for our lives,' Heather tells The Sun. 'We didn't expect to be grieving the loss of our eldest child and facing the rest of our lives without her. NHS rolls out bowel cancer screening to 50 and 52-year-olds after Dame Debs' campaigning 'But it is our reality, and we have a choice. We could choose to wallow in our grief, but I know Deborah would hate that. 'Instead, we are choosing to live our lives as she would, embracing every opportunity, making precious memories, enjoying every moment and focusing on her positive legacy. 'I am so grateful to have had 40 years with Deborah, and we are so proud of everything she achieved. I will never not miss her, but she inspires me to live a better life every day, and for that I am so grateful Heather James 'To let our sadness consume us wouldn't do justice to the person Deborah was. 'I will never not miss her, but she inspires me to live a better life every day, and for that I am so grateful.' One final gift Inspired by their daughter, Heather and Alistair have vowed to continue the work she started, raising awareness of a disease they knew so little about until Deborah educated them, and millions of others, shouting from the rooftops for people to ' Check your poo '. Just last week Alistair backed calls for Wes Streeting to end cancer diagnosis and treatment delays, pleading with the Health Secretary to overhaul NHS care with the upcoming cancer strategy. He signed an open letter led by Cancer Research UK that calls for faster diagnosis, waiting times to be met, and more equal access to treatment. In establishing her Bowelbabe Fund in the weeks before she died, Dame Debs gave her family one final gift - a positive focus for their grief. While the couple continue Debs' work in the public eye, Seb, her siblings Sarah and Ben help run the Fund behind the scenes, and her children Hugo, 17, and Eloise, 15, help decide where the money raised should be spent. Three years on, that legacy shines brighter than ever. 9 9 9 In the last year alone, money she raised has helped fund a state-of-the-art interventional radiology machine at the Royal Marsden Hospital, as well as a project that hopes to make personalised treatments for bowel cancer patients a reality - something Debs was very passionate about. In January the NHS finally rolled out bowel cancer screening tests to all those people in England aged 50 and over, after Debs spearheaded The Sun's No Time 2 Lose campaign, calling for the age to be lowered from 60 - a move that will save thousands of lives each year. Meanwhile, the newly-named Bowelbabe Laboratory opened at the prestigious Francis Crick Institute in April, and the team there are dedicated to developing more targeted treatments to combat the disease. And perhaps the icing on the cake came when King Charles hailed Dame Debs an inspiration in a speech at a reception he hosted at Buckingham Palace in April, attended by Heather and Alistair. It was the second royal seal of approval for Dame Debs after Prince William visited the family's home to bestow the honour of a damehood on her, after The Sun mounted a campaign to honour our columnist. Quoting Debs, His Majesty said: 'Find a life worth enjoying; take risks; love deeply; have no regrets; and always, always have rebellious hope.' 'I forgot to curtsey and I held his hand for far too long,' Heather recalls, laughing. Debs' fundraising efforts May 9, 2022 Dame Debs launched her Bowelbabe Fund with Cancer Research UK, hoping to raise £250,000 to help give more people more time with loved ones. June 28, 2022 On the day she died, her Fund's total stood at a staggering £7million. In the days after she died The Sun called on readers to help push it over the £10million mark and in a matter of days it was reached. June 28, 2025 Since her death, an extra £10million has been raised in Dame Debs' honour, with the total standing at over £17million. To donate visit 'It was so embarrassing, but he was so warm and wonderful. What an honour that Deborah brought us to meet the King. 'It was a real 'wow' moment, knowing that even the King has been touched by Deborah's message, and all these years later. 'For her words to resonate with him was so special.' 'She would've been blown away,' dad, Alistair adds. 'It wasn't just the King, one lady-in-waiting made a point of telling us she followed Deborah, and even staff in the cloakroom told us of the impact she'd had on their lives too.' To calm their nerves at the prospect of rubbing shoulders with royalty, the couple admit they had to stop for a drink en route, 'for a bit of Dutch courage', Heather laughs. 'Deborah would've done exactly the same,' she adds. By Lizzie Parry, Head of Health at The Sun and Deborah's editor and friend 'YOU'LL remember me when the west wind moves, upon the fields of barley'. I can't listen to those famous lyrics now without welling up, even now three years on. Fields of Gold is the song Dame Debs chose to play at her funeral, as her casket was carried out of the beautiful church in Barnes, as her loved ones said their goodbyes. I sobbed then, and it will forever remind me of that moment and Debs. It's not the only thing. Grief is a multi-sensory thing. I remember her when I hear that song, when I feel the rain on my face, when I taste a glass of chilled champagne, when I smell her rose and when I see sequins catching the light. It's all encompassing, and it often catches you unawares. Where once all those things felt quite painful, three years on since her death and they do make me smile now (even through the tears). Where once I avoided memories of her, now I love being caught by a flash of my beautifully bonkers friend. Though, my brain really can't quite fathom that it's been so long since I last spoke to her and laughed with her, and yet it feels like only yesterday at the same time. While she was alive, Debs taught me so much. She reminded me - and her thousands of followers - that life is for living, that there is joy to be found in every single day and that we shouldn't wait for the 'right time' to do life. In death, those lessons still hold true for me, and I often find myself thinking 'what would Debs do'? Invariably the answer is 'just do it' whether it's booking a holiday, buying the dress, or squeezing a date with my best friends into an already busy week. So, today on the third anniversary of the horrible moment I learned my friend had passed away, I'll ask the same question… 'What would debs do?'. She'd put on her shortest, sparkliest dress and wildest pair of heels, pop open a bottle of champagne and she'd dance to Fields of Gold while beaming with joy and crying all in one go. Debs, forgive me I might have to leave the sequins in the wardrobe in this weather… but that's exactly how I plan to remember you today. And if she touched your life in any way, I know she'd love the idea of you doing the same. 'All I wanted to do was wear a pair of comfy trainers under my dress, but I could hear Deborah in my ear telling me absolutely not, and that I must wear my heels, ' no pain, no gain'. 'So of course, I wore the heels and my feet were covered in blisters the next day!' For Heather and Alistair their own grief is one thing, but their true sadness comes from knowing what Deborah is missing out on. 'When anybody dies young, it is the life they miss out on that is the hardest thing to face,' says Alistair. 'For me, it was about a year before she died when I realised the end was coming. 'We were on holiday in France and we were walking together, and it dawned on me that she knew that time was running out. 'That was when I felt saddest. 'My other sadness is seeing the children. She would've adored seeing them grow up, at 15 and 17 they are such great ages now. 'Given what they have been through they have really coped incredibly well, she would be beaming with pride. 'They are both turning into such lovely people.' Heather adds: 'Seb is such a wonderful dad, they have a very special relationship. 'He's fulfilling all his promises to Deborah, and some. They are a lovely little unit, they are the best of friends. 'Seb really understands them, and they are so protective of him.' Marking three years This year, to mark the third anniversary of Deborah's death, the family are all getting together at Heather and Alistair's home. It is where Deborah took her last breath, holding her husband Seb's hand and surrounded by her parents and siblings - her beloved Wimbledon on in the background. 'As she passed away Wimbledon was on, she absolutely loved it and over the years we all got to go with her,' says Heather. 'It will always remind us of that time, and on Monday, Alistair and I will be there for the opening day. 'We'll raise a glass to Deborah and remember those special moments with her, as well as the gift she left us all - a lesson in how to really live life.' What are the red flag warning signs of bowel cancer? IT'S the fourth most common cancer in the UK, the second deadliest - yet bowel cancer can be cured, if you catch it early enough. While screening is one way of ensuring early diagnosis, there are things everyone can do to reduce their risk of the deadly disease. Being aware of the signs and symptoms of bowel cancer, spotting any changes and checking with your GP can prove a life-saver. If you notice any of the signs, don't be embarrassed and don't ignore them. Doctors are used to seeing lots of patients with bowel problems. The five red-flag symptoms of bowel cancer include: Bleeding from the back passage, or blood in your poo A change in your normal toilet habits - going more frequently for example Pain or a lump in your tummy Extreme tiredness Losing weight Tumours in the bowel typically bleed, which can cause a shortage of red blood cells, known as anaemia. It can cause tiredness and sometimes breathlessness. In some cases bowel cancer can block the bowel, this is known as a bowel obstruction. Other signs include: Gripping pains in the abdomen Feeling bloated Constipation and being unable to pass wind Being sick Feeling like you need to strain - like doing a number two - but after you've been to the loo While these are all signs to watch out for, experts warn the most serious is noticing blood in your stools. But, they warn it can prove tricky for doctors to diagnose the disease, because in most cases these symptoms will be a sign of a less serious disease. 9 9 9
Telegraph
24-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Dame Deborah James's widower ‘in relationship with Swiss investment banker'
The widower of Dame Deborah James is reportedly in a relationship with a Swiss investment banker. Sebastien Bowen, 45, was pictured holding hands with Susann Aulbach while walking alongside the Thames in west London. The Daily Mail reported that Ms Aulback, 39, is the head of investor relations at a London finance firm. They were seen enjoying lunch at the the River Cafe in Hammersmith after Mr Bowen was said to have been given the blessing of his late wife's family to start dating again. Before her death from cancer in June 2022, aged 40, Dame Deborah told her husband he could move on but not 'marry a bimbo'. She was awarded a damehood by Prince William, who visited her at her parents' home in Woking, Surrey. After starting her end-of-life care, the former deputy headmistress said in an interview: 'I have given him strict instructions: I want him to move on. 'He's a handsome man. I'm like, 'don't be taken for a ride, don't marry a bimbo, find someone else who can make you laugh like we did'.' In 2023, her mother, Heather, said: 'Deborah will be a hard act to follow, but he has our blessing.' Mr Bowen and Dame Deborah married in 2008 and had two children together. She was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2015, and went on to call herself 'Bowelbabe'. The broadcaster, best known for the award-winning You, Me And The Big C, raised more than £11 million for cancer charities, including £3 million in three days after announcing that she was moving to hospice care. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge revealed that they were among the thousands who had donated. The couple tweeted: 'Every now and then, someone captures the heart of the nation with their zest for life and tenacious desire to give back to society. @bowelbabe is one of those special people. 'Her tireless efforts to raise awareness of bowel cancer and end the stigma of treatment are inspiring. We are so sad to hear her recent update but pleased to support the @bowelbabef (Bowelbabe Fund) which will benefit the @royalmarsdenNHS among others. 'Deborah, our thoughts are with you, your family and your friends. Thank you for giving hope to so many who are living with cancer. W & C.'
Daily Mail
23-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Revealed: Dame Deborah James' husband has found love with a glamorous Swiss investment banker, 39 - three years after the bowel cancer campaigner's death
Dame Deborah James ' husband has found love again with a Swiss investment banker three years after the bowel cancer campaigner died, MailOnline can reveal. When Sebastien Bowen was pictured at the weekend with a beautiful 'mystery' woman, friends of his late wife wished him well. Dame Deborah had, after all, told her husband he should ' move on' after she was gone. Now we can reveal the woman with whom Mr Bowen, 45, was pictured holding hands in west London is Susann Aulbach, whose most recent role was head of investor relations at a London finance firm. Ms Aulbach, who lives in an £800,000 flat in Chelsea, turns 39 this month and it is thought that the pair may have been celebrating her birthday when they were spotted enjoying a long, leisurely lunch last week at The River Cafe in Hammersmith. The River Cafe is the fashionable restaurant where Jamie Oliver began his career and the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow and Nigella Lawson have dined. A passerby said: 'They looked like they were very much in love. It was very sweet. For anyone who was inspired by Dame Deborah's attitude to life, it was really heartening to see her husband looking happy again.' Ms Aulbach, who grew up in Switzerland, wore an elegant red dress with black sandals and sunglasses as she and Mr Bowen, a banker at private equity firm Pomona Capital, basked in the sunshine while they strolled on the towpath beside the Thames. Last December, we revealed that Mr Bowen was dipping his toe in the dating scene. Friends said he had been on several dates as he attempted to rebuild his life following his wife's death in June 2022. In the months before she passed, she was awarded a damehood personally by Prince William, who visited Deborah at her parents' home in Woking Surrey, where she was living. A source said: 'It's very early days for Seb and he's taking things very slowly. Deborah is going to be a tough act to follow as they had a fantastic marriage and made a great couple. But Seb feels the time has come for him to move on, as Deborah wanted him to.' Dame Deborah, who called herself 'Bowelbabe', raised more than £11million for cancer research. She was known for her frankness about dealing with her aggressive bowel cancer, which she shared on the BBC Radio 5 Live show You, Me And The Big C. She described Mr Bowen as a 'very eligible bachelor' and knew he would attract a lot of female attention after her death. She said: 'I have given him strict instructions: I want him to move on. 'He's a handsome man, I'm like, 'Don't be taken for a ride, don't marry a bimbo, find someone else who can make you laugh like we did.' She also joked there were a couple of people she didn't want him to hook up with and if he did, 'I would do my damned hardest to haunt him'. Mr Bowen met his wife, with whom he had two children, in 2005 and they married three years later. In 2023, her mother Heather said: 'Deborah will be a hard act to follow, but he has our blessing.'
