SUN columnist Deborah James has thanked her supporters on BBC Breakfast – after scans show she's cancer free.
The mum-of-two was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer days before Christmas in 2016 and has been through multiple surgeries and treatments.
But she revealed in her weekly column, Things Cancer Made Me Say, on Friday that her latest tests show her body is free of cancer.
Deborah, 38, appeared on BBC Breakfast this morning to thank her supporters and to reveal her plans to run the London Marathon in April.
Speaking to presenter Naga Munchetty, she said: "I'm feeling good and I am going to run a marathon – I'm going to commit to it, why not?
I'm in a cancer free place officially on paper… But nobody knows what the future holds
"I'm going to do it to give back to my hospital that's keeping me alive – the Royal Marsden.
"It' s going to be challenge. I'm still on treatment – never rest on your laurels.
"I think that's one of the weird things. I'm in a cancer free place officially on paper.
"But nobody knows what the future holds and I've still go to plough on with treatment.
"So I'm leaving here and going straight back into hospital to be hooked up to my drugs – they're keeping me alive."
Emotional
Deborah says that when her oncologist told her she was cancer-free on Friday they both burst into tears.
Despite getting the news she'd longed for she is also trying to remain realistic.
She said: "It's not the end of my treatment – it's the beginning of new challenges.
"But I never ever thought that we'd be here, so we've got to celebrate that."
I never ever thought that we'd be here, so we've got to celebrate that
She added: "For me statistically on paper, I was diagnosed with metastatic bowel cancer.
"Very sadly only about eight per cent of people will survive for five years.
"When it's caught early – which is one of the reasons I talk about it so much – the chances of survival are over 90 per cent.
"For me I have a systematic disease and that has to be challenged and knocked down with a variety of different techniques.
"I've undergone multiple operations – I've had a bowel resection, I've had part of my lung taken out, I've had lots of ablation operations, I've had nearly three years of chemotherapy and now I'm on some targeted drugs.
"So I've been through lots of things – as I know many people with cancer go through just to keep alive."
Humbled by support
Deborah documents her cancer journey on Instagram, under the name Bowel Babe, and has been inundated with messages of support.
She said: "I'm totally and utterly blown away. I'm so humbled by it.
"When I was diagnosed all I wanted was a story of someone that was still living, a couple of years down the line, even when you're told statistically you shouldn't be here.
When I was diagnosed all I wanted was a story of someone that was still living – I hope I can be that for other people
"And I really hope that anybody that's listening to my story can say that gives me some hope too."
The former deputy head teacher said that she is hoping to take time to celebrate the happy news with her family.
But for now it's "business as usual".
She added: "The response and overwhelming support has enabled me to go 'wow this is a really big deal'.
MORE FROM DEBORAH JAMES
ROLLERCOASTER 
I was rushed into surgery with bleed after nearly dying, says Deborah James
Deborah James walks for the 1st time after 'nearly dying' in traumatic emergency
My one Xmas wish has just come true, says stage 4 cancer patient Deborah James
I’m riding the cancer rollercoaster & face more uncertainty, says Deborah James
"I probably do need to go and celebrate that but as I said, it's business as usual and back on treatment.
"I will take time with my family just to raise a glass at least because we all know how quickly things can change.
"I think that's the key message we can't take anything for granted, so we've just got to plough on and hope for the best."
Source: Read Full Article