Desert Island Discs star Lauren Laverne has revealed she has an chronic but asymptomatic blood and bone marrow disorder, two years on from cancer diagnosis
Lauren Laverne has revealed she has been diagnosed with a chronic illness(Image: BBC)
BBC Radio and Desert Island Discs star Lauren Laverne has revealed she as been diagnosed with a disorder that can develop into blood cancer, just years on from her cancer diagnosis.
The broadcaster, 48, took to social media on Friday afternoon to reveal the ‘personal news’ to her followers that while she was feeling OK and didn’t need treatment, it was something she wanted to share as it can help other people facing the same thing.
“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’ve never heard of it either). It’s an asymptomatic blood and bone marrow disorder that tin some people can develop into blood cancer.
She was quite to assure fans as she wrote: “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 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.”
She added that it was an incurable ‘chronic condition’ and means that her immune system is now compromised so she will need MRIs and bone biopsies going forward.
She said it was ‘a lot’ coming just two years after her last diagnosis but wanted to be ‘upfront’ and share her story. She added that despite having ‘difficult experiences’ in the last eight years, she had learned a lot, and then thanked her doctors and 6 Music team who helped her.
She added that she was now taking a couple of weeks off on holiday but would be back soon. She also joked in the caption of the post: “I call it Smouldering Mye. Sounds more like a drag queen.”
Her post was immediately met with support from her celebrity pals. Kate Garraway commented: “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”
“Oh gorgeous girl! You’ve been through A LOT. And navigated it all with style and grace. Sending you love and healing xxxx,” said Sarah Cawood.
Jessie Ware said: “Sending you all the love. Thank you for sharing xxxxxx”
Dr Amir Khan also offered his help as he commented: “Oh Lauren sending you all the love. You are such a wonderful beautiful person. Please call me if you need anything.”
Lauren announced in August 2025 that she had been diagnosed with cancer – but it had been caught early. She later revealed that she had the all-clear and would be return to work soon.
Since her diagnosis she has returned to her work commitments, including fronting the BBC‘s coverage of Glastonbury Festival last year and recent editions of The One Show. She is still best known for her work as a radio DJ as the host of the late morning to lunch time show on BBC Radio 6 Music, and as the Desert Island Discs host since 2018 – making her the longest standing host of the series.
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