BBC’s Lauren Laverne reveals she’s been diagnosed with rare blood and bone marrow disorder – months after cancer battle

BBC’s Lauren Laverne has revealed she’s been diagnosed with rare blood and bone marrow disorder – months after her cancer battle. The radio star, 48, took to Instagram to share the heartbreaking news with fans that she has smouldering myeloma. BBC’s Lauren Laverne has revealed she’s been diagnosed with rare blood and bone marrow disorder – months after her cancer battle Credit: instagram/@laurenlaverne The star has presented various radio shows with the Beeb over the years Credit: BBC According to Myeloma UK’s website, smouldering myeloma is: “An early form of the blood cancer myeloma. “In smouldering myeloma abnormal cells can be detected in the bone marrow, and abnormal protein can be detected in the blood and/or urine.” Sign up for the Showbiz newsletter Thank you! Taking to her account, Lauren bravely told her 299k followers: “Hi. So – 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. Lauren is a popular star to present on BBC Radio Credit: Instagram She is also one of the famous stars who hosts The One Show Credit: BBC “I’ve been diagnosed with something called smouldering myeloma. (yes that is a weird name and no I’ve never heard of it either). “It’s an asymptomatic blood and bone marrow disorder that in some people can develop into blood cancer. “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 read in Showbiz “Most people my age who have it have no idea – it tends to be cancer 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. “It is a chronic condition – no cure yet – and it does mean my immune system is a bit compromised, so I will need to take good care of myself and I will be carefully monitored with blood tests, MRIs and bone marrow biopsies (which I have recently discovered are even less fun than they sound). “It’s been a lot, especially coming less than two years after my last diagnosis, but I know that seeing others in the public eye with comparable situations has helped me, so I thought I’d be upfront about it. “I’ve had some difficult experiences in the last eight years, but I have learned more from then than some people do in a lifetime and that is helping me right now. I am so grateful for that. “I also want to say thank you to my family, friends and the 6 Music team for their love and support and to the doctors, consultants and nurses who have been helping me as well as my brilliant therapist, and my wonderful GP who are both always in my corner. “This is the second big problem my GP has caught early and it is frankly impossible to adequately express my gratitude. “I was pretty blasé about my persistently low iron levels but he insisted we get to the bottom of what was going on. “My message to others would be like him, not me! “Advocate for yourself if you need to and ask to see a haematologist if you are in the same situation. “I’m taking a couple of weeks holiday and will be back to work as normal after that. “I feel like I have more to say about this and the other experiences I’ve had, so maybe I’ll find a place to do that soon. “For now, lots of love, especially to anyone dealing with a similar issue. “LL xx.” Many rushed to the comments section to share their kinds words with the star, including Good Morning Britain’s Kate Garraway, who said: “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 xx.” Former Loose Women star Andrea Mclean added: “I’m so sorry to hear this Laverne. Thank you for sharing, you will have helped so many.” ITV’s Doctor Amir Khan commented: “Oh Lauren sending you all the love. You are such a wonderful beautiful person. Please call me if you need.” Celebrity Big Brother’s Angellica Bell simply wrote a love heart emoji. It comes two years after Lauren’s cancer diagnosis. Back in August 2024, the TV presenter took to her social media to make the brave announcement from her hospital bed. The host explained she had been diagnosed with the disease but it was caught early and expects she will make a “full recovery”. Lauren did not reveal what type of cancer she has, but said it was spotted during a screening test. She said: “I recently had a cancer diagnosis. It was (thank God) caught early and unexpectedly during a screening test and I am expected to make a full recovery. “I’m in hospital at the moment and wanted to take this moment to say thank you: firstly to medical teams who have got me this far with incredible skill and kindness. “To my family and friends who have been absolutely extraordinary every step of the way – I am so very grateful and love you so much. “And of course thank you to my colleagues…. for their support and for giving me the time off that I need to get better.” Lauren urged her followers to attend every scan or appointment they’re given as it could be life-saving. She added: “If you’re avoiding a test or putting off an appointment to get yourself checked out please, please do it today. “Half of us will get cancer at some point, and if you do, finding out asap is everything.” Lauren shot to fame as the lead singer and guitarist for rock band Kenickie in the 90s. The group, which included Lauren, her brother Pete, Marie du Santiago and Emmy-Kate Montrose, split in October 1998 after a gig at London Astoria. Shortly after, Lauren began working on radio and joined the BBC. In 2005, after appearing on a pop TV show, she met her now-husband and fellow DJ Graeme Fisher. The pair have two children together – Fergus James and Mack – and live in London. She presents the likes of BBC’s The One Show and presents BBC Radio 6 Music. Comment now