THE MUM of Dame Deborah James has paid moving tribute to her daughter on World Cancer Day.
Heather James took to Instagram to write a moving post honouring Deborah, who died of bowel cancer in June 2022 at the age of 40.
Deborah's mum shared a post from her late daughter's Bowelbabe Fund, adding: "Four years ago on World Cancer Day, Deborah pledged to continue to raise awareness of bowel cancer.
"Deborah you will never be forgotten and through the Bowelbabe fund your legacy continues.
"Love and miss you forever.'
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She continued: "What a big hole you have left in our hearts and lives."
The brave mum-of-two, known as BowelBabe to her legions of Instagram fans, was diagnosed with incurable bowel cancer just days before Christmas in 2016, at the age of 35.
Despite being told she had an eight per cent chance of living five years, Deborah defied the odds stacked against her, and died six months before her 41st birthday.
Deborah shared every step of her journey with Sun readers in her column Things Cancer Made Me Say and amassed an army of loyal social media followers.
She went on to present the award-winning BBC podcast You, Me and the Big C with fellow cancer patients Rachael Bland, who passed away in September 2018, Lauren Mahon and Rachael’s husband Steve.
In it, she told listeners: “It’s amazing how much you wish for another sunset or another cuddle.
“You can’t leave things until tomorrow, because there might not be a tomorrow.
“Please enjoy life because it’s so precious. All I want right now is more time and more life.
“Oh and ‘check your poo’, I can’t leave on any other words than ‘check your poo.’"
In the five-and-a-half years since her diagnosis Deborah changed the conversation around bowel cancer, raising vital awareness and breaking down taboos.
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You can’t leave things until tomorrow, because there might not be a tomorrow
Dame Deborah James
She tirelessly banged the F*** Cancer drum - writing a book of the same name - and vowed to do everything she could to help others avoid her fate.
In May 2022 she revealed her treatment was no longer working, and she had moved back to her parent's home in Woking to die.
In a heartbreaking goodbye message to her Instagram followers, she said: "My body just can't continue.
"The message I never wanted to write. We have tried everything, but my body simply isn’t playing ball.
"My active care has stopped and I am now moved to hospice at home care, with my incredible family all around me and the focus is on making sure I’m not in pain and spending time with them.
"Nobody knows how long I’ve got left but I’m not able to walk, I’m sleeping most of the days, and most things I took for granted are pipe dreams."
In the final weeks of her life, Deborah was recognised with a Damehood, and Prince William visited her at her family home to present her with the honour.
