HEARTBREAKING: BBC’s diagnosed with incurable disease months after c@ncer battle
The BBC presenter took to social media to share the heartbreaking health update online.
BBC’s Lauren Laverne has received an incurable disease months after c@ncer battle (Image: PA)
BBC’s Lauren Laverne has received another devastating health diagnosis just months after beating c@ncer. On Friday (July 17), the 48-year-old radio and TV presenter revealed that she has been diagnosed with a rare blood and bone marrow disorder called smouldering myeloma. Taking to Instagram, she shared an emotional statement with her loyal legion of fans, which read: “Personal news.
“I’m quite a private person by nature, but am sharing this as one of the many things I’ve learned after going through health challenges in recent years is that talking about this stuff helps people. I’ve been diagnosed with something called smouldering myeloma (yes, that is a weird name and no, I’d never heard of it either).
“It’s an asymptomatic blood and bone marrow disorder that in some people can develop into blood c@ncer. Thankfully for me, the risk of this happening in my case is pretty low. At the moment, I feel OK and don’t need treatment. Most people my age who have it have no idea – it tends to be c@ncer survivors like me who are diagnosed early, as we’re so carefully monitored.
“It has nothing to do with my previous illness or my recent surgery; it’s just one of those things”, She added that it was an incurable “chronic condition” and means that her immune system is now compromised, so she will need regular check-ups, MRIs and bone biopsies moving forward.
The Desert Island Discs star said it was “a lot” to come to terms with just two years after her last diagnosis, but wanted to be “upfront” and share her story with others. She added that despite having “difficult experiences” in the last eight years, she has also learned a lot about herself and thanked her team of doctors and the 6 Music team who have helped her behind the scenes.
The broadcaster ended the post by informing her fans that she was taking some well-deserved time off on holiday but would be back on the airwaves soon enough. She chuckled: “I call it Smoulderign Mye. Sounds more like a drag queen.”
Myeloma UK’s website describes the condition as “an early form of the blood c@ncer myeloma. They explained: “In smouldering myeloma, abnormal cells can be detected in the bone marrow, and abnormal protein can be detected in the blood and/or urine.”
The broadcaster is being supported by her famous friends and loyal legion of fans (Image: PA)
It didn’t take long for her famous friends and loyal legion of fans to swarm to the comments section to pass on their well-wishes online. Kate Garraway led the way, posting: “Oh Lauren – hate that this is coming at you on top of everything else – sending you love and healing and you are right you will have helped so many by speaking up.”
Sarah Cawood added: “Oh gorgeous girl! You’ve been through A LOt. And navigated it all with style and grace. Sending you love and healing.” Meanwhile, Jessie Ware chimed in with: “Sending you all the love. Thank you for sharing.” This Morning star Dr Amir Khan also offered his help, commenting: “Oh, Lauren, sending you all the love. You are such a wonderful, beautiful person. Please call me if you need anything.”
Lauren announced back in August 2025 that she had been diagnosed with c@ncer, but reassured fans that it had been caught early. She later revealed that she had received the all-clear and would be returning to work soon. Since her diagnosis, she has returned to her work commitments, including hosting the BBC’s coverage of Glastonbury Festival last year and recent editions of The One Show.
She is still best known as a radio DJ, hosting the late-morning-to-lunchtime show on BBC Radio 6 Music, as well as the anchor of Desert Island Discs since 2018, making her the longest-standing host of the series to date.
