Dame Deborah James fund boosts hospital cancer treatments

A cutting-edge cancer treatment machine has been installed at a leading hospital thanks to an injection of cash from Dame Deborah James’s cancer fund.

A new interventional radiology machine has been set up at The Royal Marsden, where Dame Deborah received her cancer treatment.

Her Bowelbabe fund donated £1 million to the hospital’s charity – The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, which funded a new interventional radiology X-ray machine and a refurbishment of the interventional radiology suite at the hospital.

Dame Deborah herself had interventional radiology as part of her treatment at the hospital.

Hospital officials said that the new machine will also support research being carried out at the cancer centre.

Dame Deborah’s father Alistair James told The Sun: “It was brilliant to see something so modern and cutting-edge in place, ready to help others.

“It’s concrete proof of what the Bowelbabe Fund can achieve.”

Her mother Heather told the newspaper: “Deborah wanted to fund research to help find better ways of treating cancer, so this is a really fitting way in which her legacy will continue on.”

“She always championed interventional radiology treatment, and it is wonderful that this new technology will help many patients with cancer in the future, enabling us to offer people less invasive treatment and also develop new, improved ways of treating cancer.”

Antonia Dalmahoy, managing director of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, added: “Dame Deborah was a huge inspiration to so many people, shining a light on the experience of living with cancer and channelling her energy into raising funds and awareness throughout her treatment.

“We are so thankful to Dame Deborah, her family and the Bowelbabe Fund for Cancer Research UK for this generous support of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

“The new machine at The Royal Marsden will have a lasting impact, helping to save lives and supporting vital research for the benefit of cancer patients everywhere.

“It will help to continue Deborah’s extraordinary legacy long into the future, giving hope and time to more patients and their families.”

Dame Deborah died in June 2022 at the age of 40, five years after she was diagnosed with bowel cancer.

Her Bowelbabe fund has raised more than £16 million since it was launched in 2022.

– For more information visit bowelbabe.org.