What Is Polycythaemia Vera? BBC Presenter Maryam Moshiri Reveals Incurable Blood Cancer and Lifelong Treatment

BBC News presenter Maryam Moshiri has revealed she is living with polycythaemia vera, a rare and incurable form of blood cancer that will require treatment for the rest of her life.

The 49-year-old journalist, who joined the BBC in 2003, was diagnosed with polycythaemia vera, also known as PV, in November 2024 after abnormalities were detected during routine blood tests. Moshiri said she decided to speak publicly after spending two years learning to manage the disease and its impact on her life.

'I'm going to have to spend the rest of my life being treated for this,' Moshiri told the BBC.

What Is Polycythaemia Vera?

Polycythaemia vera is a blood cancer in which the body produces too many red blood cells. The excess cells make the blood thicker than normal, potentially affecting how easily it flows around the body.

PV cannot currently be cured but can be managed with treatment aimed at controlling blood-cell levels and reducing the risk of blood clots.

Moshiri said she had mostly experienced no symptoms before her diagnosis and credited her GP's attention to routine blood tests with helping detect the condition.

Polycythaemia Vera Symptoms and Health Risks

Symptoms of polycythaemia vera can include headaches, confusion, dizziness, blurred vision, itching and extreme fatigue, although some patients may initially experience few or no symptoms.

Because PV can make blood thicker, people with the condition face a higher risk of blood clots, which can lead to complications including stroke, heart attack or deep vein thrombosis.

According to Blood Cancer UK, PV can in some cases develop into another type of blood cancer called myelofibrosis and, more rarely, acute myeloid leukaemia.

Moshiri Details Blood Cancer Treatment

Moshiri initially underwent repeated venesections, a procedure in which blood is slowly removed through a vein to reduce its thickness.

She said she underwent seven or eight sessions over about five months, leaving her iron levels depleted. She later experienced severe fatigue, hair loss and itching.

Moshiri subsequently began interferon treatment through the NHS. After adjustments to her treatment, she said she has needed only one venesection in about 15 months and has recently been feeling better.

'The last couple of months have been better than the last two years,' she said.

How Moshiri's Cancer Has Affected Her Life

Moshiri, a mother of three, said fatigue has been one of the biggest challenges of living with polycythaemia vera.

She described the exhaustion as feeling like someone had 'removed your battery completely', adding that getting more sleep does not necessarily help. She said the condition has sometimes prevented her from attending family occasions or playing with her children.

Despite her illness, Moshiri has continued presenting and travelling internationally for major BBC assignments during the past two years.

She said she is 'not the person I was two years ago' but now feels 'much better', while remaining aware of the long-term risks associated with PV.

'I think it's really important people understand that this blood cancer is incurable but it's manageable with the right treatment and you can lead a relatively healthy life,' Moshiri said.

She added that finding the right treatment and ensuring it works for the individual is an important part of managing the condition.