DEBORAH JAMES was diagnosed with incurable bowel cancer and has raised over £3 million for her BowelBabe fund. The Sun writer and author, broke down in tears when she spoke about the emotional conversations she had with her children. How many children does Deborah James have? Journalist Deborah, 40, is married to Sebastien Bowen and […]
DEBORAH JAMES was diagnosed with incurable bowel cancer and has raised over £3 million for her BowelBabe fund.
The Sun writer and author, broke down in tears when she spoke about the emotional conversations she had with her children.
Journalist Deborah, 40, is married to Sebastien Bowen and together they have two children.
Her daughter Eloise is 12 years old while her son Hugo is 14.
At the age of 35, Deborah was diagnosed with stage 4 bowel cancer and started sharing her journey in her Sun column, Things Cancer Made Me Say.
Two years after her diagnosis, she released a book called F*** You Cancer: How to Face the Big C, Live Your Life and Still Be Yourself.
The same year she also began presenting the podcast You, Me and the Big C with fellow cancer patients Lauren Mahon and Rachael Bland.
In May 2022, Deborah posted an update on her condition and admitted that she had stopped treatment and was instead receiving end of life care.
She is at her parent’s home in Woking and is prioritising spending time with her family.
On 5 Live she said they were outside in the sunshine and she was telling her husband and children that she loved them.
While Deborah has remained resilient throughout her journey, she broke into tears on BBC Breakfast when she spoke about her children.
She said: “It’s been hideous telling my children. My first thought was, ‘I don’t want them to see me like this’.
“I didn’t think I’d be able to speak to them without crying, but I’d love one last cuddle.”
Working through her “death admin”, Deborah says letters to Eloise and Hugo are at the top of her To Do list.
“I want them to have letters at milestones, and funny messages: Here’s my advice on your wedding day; what to do on a first date”, she explained.
In her final column, Deborah wrote: “I’ve gone into mental overdrive and with the help of my husband, Seb, we have made sure that the kids have memory boxes – we’ve bought them gifts for certain key future birthdays.
“I do not want to die – I can’t get my head around the idea that I will not see my kids’ weddings or see them grow up – that I will no longer be a part of life that I love so much.”
Read More on The Sun
Deborah raised an incredible £3 million for her Bowelbabe cancer research fund in just three days after her announcement on Monday, May 9, 2022.
Bowelbabe was donated to by Prince William and Kate Middleton who praised Deborah’s “zest for life and tenacious desire to give back to society”.
