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Lauren Laverne has announced that she has been diagnosed with a blood and bone disorder, less than two years after recovering from cancer.
The TV and radio host revealed that she has multiple myeloma, which is characterized by an increase in plasma cells in the bones, and said she went public because she wanted to help others. In August 2024, he announced that he had been diagnosed with cancer, and received it clearly understood after three months.
Laverne, 48, wrote on Instagram on Friday: “I’m a very private person by nature, but I’m sharing this as one of the many things I’ve learned after dealing with health issues in recent years is that talking about it helps people.
“I was diagnosed with smoldering myeloma (yes that’s a weird name and no I’ve never heard of it) It’s a rare disease of the blood and bone marrow that in some people can turn into leukemia.
“Fortunately the risk of this happening to me is very low.”
Laverne said she currently does not need treatment, adding that the disease has “nothing to do” with her previous illness. He said: “A lot of people my age who don’t know – it’s cancer patients like me who are diagnosed early, because we’re monitored closely.
“It’s an incurable disease – incurable – and it means my immune system is a bit compromised, so I have to take good care of myself with regular blood tests, MRIs and bone marrow biopsies (which I’ve recently found to be a lot more interesting than it sounds).”
The broadcaster said he would take “a few weeks off” before returning to work. Laverne, who was the lead singer of the rock band Kenickie in the 90s, has become a singer. BBC Music presenter on Radio 6 since 2008 and has hosted Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs since 2018. He has also presented The One Show since 2023.
He wrote: “It’s been a lot, especially less than two years since I was diagnosed with this disease for the last time, but I know that seeing others in front of people struggling with similar problems has helped me a lot, so I thought I should be honest.
“I’ve had some tough experiences in the last eight years, but I’ve learned more from them than most people do in life and it’s helping me right now.
“I’m very grateful for that.”
Laverne thanked her family, friends and colleagues as well as her “amazing” GP for diagnosing the iron deficiency early.
The charity Blood Cancer UK said: “There are more than 53,000 people in the UK on urgent care for a variety of blood cancers, including multiple myeloma, so no one should feel they are going through this alone.
“If Lauren’s story has raised questions or concerns about smoking myeloma or any type of leukemia, we are here to help. Our dedicated nurses offer free, confidential and informative support, helping people understand their condition, take a proactive approach and find answers to any questions they may have.”
