Thank you – Dame Deborah James saved my life, without her I wouldn’t’ be here today
DAME Deborah James was an inspiration to millions of people.
Through her tireless bowel cancer campaigning, the Sun writer was on a mission to make everyone aware of the signs and symptoms.
Now one woman has revealed how Debs saved her life, after she saw the mum-of-two on TV talking about the red flags of the illness.
Teresa Whitfield was diagnosed with stage 3 bowel cancer, and credits Debs for being the reason she is still alive today.
Early diagnosis is key when it comes to cancer, as this gives patients the best shot at receiving treatment.
Ms Whitfield is now cancer-free and was today asked what she would say to Deborah’s family following the tragic news of her death.
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“I think I actually have only one word which is thank-you.
“Without her, I don’t think I would be here today. Her campaigning is critical and we, as bowel cancer patients, as bowel cancer survivors, and as anybody who thinks they might have bowel cancer, we have to carry on with the legacy that she has.
“We have to carry on campaigning to raise awareness,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme.
Last month Deborah was moved to palliative care after she said her body had ‘stopped playing ball’.
Donate here to keep raising money for Deborah’s BowelBabe fund
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It was from her parents’ home in Woking, Surrey, that the mum-of-two continued to raise awareness.
In her final weeks she raised over £6.8million for the BowelBabe fund, which she set up to give ‘more Deborah’s more time’.
Alongside this, Debs also launched a fashion collection with In the Style, raising £1million alone through the sales of her Rebellious Hope T-shirts.
But perhaps one of the biggest impacts Debs has had, is getting supermarkets up and down the country to display information about cancer on loo roll packaging.
The chief executive of Bowel Cancer UK, Genevieve Edwards, said Deborah leaves a ‘tremendous legacy’.
“She never stopped raising awareness. Bowel cancer is something people find difficult to talk about often and don’t really … they find it a little bit embarrassing.
“She’s stripped all of that away and shone a powerful light on it.”
Deborah has been described as a ‘beacon of light’ for people living with cancer, by BBC TV presenter George Alagiah, who was diagnosed with advanced bowel cancer in 2014.
He tweeted: “Knowing that @bowelbabe Dame Deborah James was nearing the end of her journey here does not make her passing any easier to accept.
The signs of bowel cancer you need to know - remember BOWEL
- B:Bleeding
There are several possible causes of bleeding from your bottom, of blood in your poo.
Bright red blood could come from swollen blood vessels, haemorrhoids or piles, in your back passage.
Dark red or black blood could come from your bowel or stomach.
Blood in your stools is one of the key signs of bowel cancer, so it’s important to mention it to your doctor so they can investigate.
2. O: Obvious change in loo habits
It’s important to tell your GP if you have noticed any changes in your bowel habits, that lasts three weeks or longer.
It’s especially important if you have also noticed signs of blood in your poo.
You might notice you need to go to the loo more often, you might have looser stools or feel like you’re not going enough or fully emptying your bowels.
Don’t be embarrassed, your GP will have heard a lot worse! Speak up and get it checked.
3. W: Weight loss
This is less common than the other symptoms, but an important one to be aware of. If you’ve lost weight and don’t really know why, it’s worth mentioning to your GP.
You may not feel like eating, feel sick, bloated and not hungry.
4. E: Extreme tiredness
Bowel cancer that causes bleeding can cause a lack of iron in the body – anaemia. If you develop anaemia you’re likely to feel tired and your skin might look pale.
5. L: Lump or pain
As with lots of other forms of cancer, a lump or pain can be a sign of bowel cancer.
It’s most likely you’ll notice a pain or lump in your stomach or back passage
“She was a beacon, lighting the way for all of us #livingwithcancer. Thank you for your example. Deborah, rest in peace now.”
Adele Roberts, who this week announced she was ‘cancer free’ also praised Deborah for helping others when she, herself was in pain.
“You are the best of us. Thinking of your family and friends and I am forever grateful to you for helping me and my family,” she said.
Tributes have poured in for the campaigner, with Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid this morning fighting back the tears as she deemed Debs ‘remarkable’.
Debs’ mum Heather, last night shared a touching tribute to her daughter, and said ‘my heart is broken’.
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Sir Keir Starmer praised Deborah’s charity work in a tribute shared on Twitter.
And Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was “terribly saddened” by the news of Dame Deborah’s passing.
