Dame Deborah James bravely chronicled her battle with bowel cancer.
The broadcaster, who died this week aged 40, was dedicated to raising awareness of her condition, with her family sharing Deborah's final wish for everyone to "check your poo- it could just save your life," along with finding "a life worth enjoying; take risks; love deeply; have no regrets; and always, always have rebellious hope."
Dame Deborah, who has raised £7m and counting for Cancer Research UK via her Bowelbabe Fund, never shied away from the reality of living with cancer and shared the early signs which led to her diagnosis in 2016.
Initially the mum-of-two saw a change in her bowel movements, which at first she put down to drinking "too much wine", a new job and the stress of motherhood.
She raised the possibility with her GP that she had bowel cancer, but early blood test results and stool samples led the doctor to believe that she had irritable bowel syndrome.
However the symptoms worsened over the next few months.
In January 2017 Deborah wrote Bowel Babe blog: “I was still losing weight, passing blood and going what felt like 100 times per day and feeling shattered.
“I knew there was something wrong with me, a sixth sense if you will, because the first time I was afraid - very afraid about taking this further.”
In December 2016, she sought the help from an colonoscopy expert privately, leading to her diagnosis.
The signs of bowel are not always obvious and don't just include blood in the poo.
The NHS says that more than 90% of people with bowel cancer have at least one of the common symptoms like the following:
- Abdominal pain - bloating, reduction in food eaten or weight loss.
- Blood in the poo - watch for this appearing without other symptoms such as haemorrhoids.
- Change in bowel habit - more frequent trips to the toilet with looser and runnier poos. People should watch out for pain in the abdomen.
Bowel Cancer UK also said that people should watch out for feeling tired for no reason and a pain or lump in the tummy area.
It advised: "Most people with these symptoms don’t have bowel cancer. Other health problems can cause similar symptoms. But if you have one or more of these, or if things just don’t feel right, go to see your GP."
The You, Me and the Big C podcast presenter was made a dame by Prince William last month, when he visited her home.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge paid tribute to the campaigner after her death was announced yesterday, describing her as inspirational and brave.
"We are so sad to hear the news about Dame Deborah," the statement shared on their Instagram Stories read.
"Our thoughts are with her children, her family and her loved ones."
Underneath an image of the late star, they added: "Deborah was an inspirational and unfalteringly brave woman whose legacy will live on."
