BBC newsreader Kate Williams reveals rare cancer diagnosis

‘I keep saying I’m lucky ... my surgery was only about six hours,’ says Radio 5 Live broadcaster

Newsreader Kate Williams (BBC Radio 5 Live)

BBC newsreader Kate Williams has revealed that she was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer last summer.

The BBC Radio 5 Live broadcaster opened up about the treatment she had undergone for cystic peritoneal mesothelioma on the station’s You, Me and The Big C podcast.

She said she knew of only three other people who suffered from the disease, which affects the abdominal cavity, and that doctors had said there had only been just over 150 cases worldwide.

Ms Williams, who is married with two children, said she underwent “the mother of all surgeries” and chemotherapy to combat the “aggressive” cancer.

She said: “If you look at the medical literature, they often quote 153 cases in the world. And in the UK I know of three other people, mainly through a Facebook group that I joined.”

“If you look at mesothelioma it’s not a nice one to look at. It’s very aggressive, malignant, quite often caused by asbestos,” she added.

Discussing her course of surgery, she said: “It’s called MOAS, mother of all surgeries. It’s official name is cytoreductive surgery with HIPEC - which is hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.

“So they took out the cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, greater omentum, lesser omentum, pelvic peritoneum, another bit of my peritoneum.

“I was really lucky I didn’t have a stoma. And then they pump you full of heated chemotherapy which has been heated up to 42 Celsius, so that circulates around inside you for about an hour.

“I keep saying I’m lucky or it wasn’t too bad, my surgery was only about six hours, which you know, people say, “Oh six hours” but some patients who have this it’s 12 to 14 hours.”

She spoke alongside hosts Deborah James, Lauren Mahon and Steve Bland. Dr Paul Huang, a team leader in molecular and systems oncology from the Institute of Cancer Research, also appeared to discuss the treatment.

Listeners shared their support with Ms Williams on social media. LBC broadcaster Shelia Fogarty tweeted: “Sending you tons of love after what you’ve been through. Love to all on this important podcast.”