BBC News presenter Maryam Moshiri says she has been diagnosed with polycythaemia vera (PV), describing it as a rare blood cancer she does not expect to be cured of. She says the diagnosis came after her GP noticed irregularities in blood tests and that doctors told her about the condition in November 2024. Moshiri has also said she is not going to die.
PV is described across outlets as a chronic illness that is treatable but not curable. It is linked to an increased risk of blood clots, which can contribute to events such as stroke, heart attack and deep vein thrombosis. The reports also differ slightly on the estimated number of people living with the condition in the UK, with one figure citing about 8,000 people and another suggesting around 15,000.
Overall coverage focuses on her personal account of living with PV and explains the disorder’s nature and risks, while providing varying prevalence estimates.
