Dame Deborah James' mother Heather has said she finds it harder to cope with the death of her daughter because it has been longer since they last spoke

Dame Deborah James’s mother says loss of her daughter, 40, is getting ‘harder’ as the weeks go on because it’s ‘longer since she last spoke to her’

  • Dame Deborah James’ mum said she finds it harder now to cope with her death 
  • She said it was because it has been longer since she last spoke with her
  • Heather James said Deborah had lived life to the full and spread positivity
  • Daughter spend last days at her mother’s home in Woking  

Dame Deborah James’ mother Heather has said she finds it harder to cope with the death of her daughter because it has been longer since they last spoke.

She appeared on Lorraine today to mark the release of Dame Deborah’s final book How To Live When You Could Be Dead.

The British broadcaster, who died in June at the age of 40 after a five-year battle with stage four bowel cancer, raised more than £7million through her fundraising efforts. 

In Heather’s first studio interview since the death of her daughter almost two months ago, she told host Christine Lampard that Deborah had lived life to the full and spread positivity.

Dame Deborah James' mother Heather has said she finds it harder to cope with the death of her daughter because it has been longer since they last spoke

Dame Deborah James’ mother Heather has said she finds it harder to cope with the death of her daughter because it has been longer since they last spoke

The British broadcaster, who died in June at the age of 40 after a five-year battle with stage four bowel cancer, raised more than £7million through her fundraising efforts

The British broadcaster, who died in June at the age of 40 after a five-year battle with stage four bowel cancer, raised more than £7million through her fundraising efforts

In Heather's first studio interview since the death of her daughter almost two months ago, she told host Christine Lampard that Deborah had lived life to the full and spread positivity

In Heather’s first studio interview since the death of her daughter almost two months ago, she told host Christine Lampard that Deborah had lived life to the full and spread positivity

She said: ‘I actually find it harder now since the weeks go on because it’s been longer since I’ve spoken to her and like this, she should be here doing this.’

 ‘This is out of my comfort zone… I know she’s with me in spirit and I know she’s looking down and saying, “Mum, you can do this.”

She gave me the confidence while she was here and I’m hoping, with her help, I can still have the confidence and get the word out about cancer and checking your poo and being positive about living a good life when things go wrong.’

Deborah spent the last two years writing the book and  Heather said the last two chapters, which were done at home in the last few weeks of Deborah’s life, were ’emotional’.

She said it was ‘not the ending [Deborah] expected when she started the book two years ago – she didn’t know then how long she’d have, but she had two extra years, which was amazing.’

She added: ‘I’ve read the last chapters now and they’re very emotional but very, very good advice to the children, so that’s good.’

‘We knew she’d come home to die, but you still had that bit of hope, “Did they get it wrong?” 

‘She lived longer than the first time we were given. 

‘She was such a positive person, full of energy, right up to the last breath she took. 

‘She wanted life and loved life so much and she wanted everyone else to experience the positivity of life – what a great way to lead your life and if we could all just take a little bit of that hope and positivity and mindset – that is hopefully what the book will help you achieve.’ 

Heather said: ‘She was very, very determined. For me, a very hard child to bring up. So determined, there would be a battle going on, but she always enjoyed her life, lived it to the full, never had enough hours, enough minutes of the day. 

‘Even as a very young child, “Could we not put more than 24 hours in the day? Who chose 24 hours in the day?”‘

‘The outpouring from the public over the Bowel Babe fund was amazing.’ 

Lorraine airs weekdays at 9am on ITV and ITV Hub. 

BOWEL CANCER: THE SYMPTOMS YOU SHOULDN’T IGNORE 

Bowel, or colorectal, cancer affects the large bowel, which is made up of the colon and rectum.

Such tumours usually develop from pre-cancerous growths, called polyps.

Symptoms include:

  • Bleeding from the bottom
  • Blood in stools
  • A change in bowel habits lasting at least three weeks
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Extreme, unexplained tiredness
  • Abdominal pain

Most cases have no clear cause, however, people are more at risk if they: 

  • Are over 50
  • Have a family history of the condition
  • Have a personal history of polyps in their bowel
  • Suffer from inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn’s disease
  • Lead an unhealthy lifestyle  

Treatment usually involves surgery, and chemo- and radiotherapy.

More than nine out of 10 people with stage one bowel cancer survive five years or more after their diagnosis.

This drops significantly if it is diagnosed in later stages. 

According to Bowel Cancer UK figures, more than 41,200 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year in the UK. 

It affects around 40 per 100,000 adults per year in the US, according to the National Cancer Institute.

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