Lauren Laverne Faces Rare Blood Disorder After Cancer

, 48, has been diagnosed with a rare blood and bone marrow disorder.

The broadcaster, who presents Radio 4's Desert Island Discs and the BBC Radio 6 Music Breakfast Show, announced the news in an Instagram update on Friday, admitting coming to terms with her new diagnosis has been 'a lot' in light of her diagnosis two years ago.

She went public with her cancer diagnosis in August 2024 and announced she was given the 'all-clear' in November 2024.

Lauren explained she has now been diagnosed with smouldering myeloma, an asymptomatic blood and bone marrow disorder that in some people can develop into blood cancer.

'Hi. So – personal news,' Lauren began her post. '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 in some people can develop into blood cancer. Thankfully for me the risk of this happening in my case is pretty low.'

She continued: '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.

'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.

Lauren, who has previously said that she has battled health anxiety stemming from the loss of her mother to cancer in 2022, continued: 'I've had some difficult experiences in the last eight years, but I have learned more from them than some people do in a lifetime and that is helping me right now. I am so grateful for that.

She went on to thank her '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.'

Lauren also gave praise to her GP, pointing out that '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.

She signed off her post: 'For now, lots of love, especially to anyone dealing with a similar issue. LL xx.'

Lauren's post was met with an outpouring of support from her celeb friends, with Kate Garraway commenting: '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.'

Sophie Ellis Bextor wrote: 'You are so loved. Sending all the good stuff to you and your family. Three cheers for your GP for being so on it. You are in safe hands.'

Lauren's close friend Myleene Klass told her: 'Love you Lala, We've got you.' 

The BBC star  is married to television producer and DJ Graeme Fisher.The couple tied the knot in August 2005 in County Durham and have two sons together - Fergus, 17, and Mack, 14.