BBC's Deborah James shuts down claims she ‘looks really ill’ amid cancer battle

express.co.uk:

BBC podcast host Deborah James has been living with incurable cancer for the past five years and has been uplifted by "incredible" messages.

However, she also sees the dark side of social media, from cruel trolls to hapless people who simply don't know what to say.The 40-year-old, a former headteacher at a Catholic school, has now turned to cancer campaigning and has spoken out about her experiences on the podcast You, Me And The Big C."[I've had] incredible social media messages [which] literally lift me up at the darkest of times," she said, while the presenter reflected on the support she received.[However] I'm finding it really hard to read comments from people saying to me: 'Oh, I hate seeing you like this' or 'You're so weak and fragile' or 'You look really ill'," she continued."I'm thinking: 'Well, thank you, yes I do, but I don't need reminding of the fact that I look really ill - I already know that!'"It's some of the worst things you can say to people."She hit back at those who have expectations of a lively response as someone living with cancer, admitting that she suffers total exhaustion sometimes."I have people asking me questions and actually that's taxing in itself," she revealed."My friend Emma Campbell, who we've had on the podcast before, actually put out a great post on social media about the idea of how we don't really know what to say to people when they're in this situation," Deborah explained."She put out a post [suggesting] sending messages with no expectations and I thought that was such a great way to put it."To not ask a question, [to have] no expectations of a [reply]], to not think that it reflects badly on you or your friendship if [the cancer sufferer doesn't] respond."Aside from.