Deborah James Bowel Babe documentary has viewers in tears as she is hailed inspiration

Dame Deborah James admitted "losing the will to live" in a documentary charting the final stages of her bowel cancer battle that moved viewers to tears.

The cancer campaigner and mother-of-two - who was diagnosed with incurable bowel cancer in 2016 – died aged 40 in June 2020 and was filmed during her end of life care for BBC's Bowelbabe: In Her Own Words which aired on BBC Two and iPlayer.

James was filmed shouting "I love you" to her children as she was carried downstairs by paramedics after suffering a haemorrhage, believing it would be the last time she would see them.

Read more: Deborah James' husband opens up about the late campaigner's cancer battle

As she recovered in hospital that night she said: "It is 4am in the morning and I've been having a good cry. I don't know how anybody can get through what I am going through at the moment. I have kind of been crying for three days now and I'm starting to lose the will to live and I never ever ever say that. Ever. I want to be living but I want to actually be living, I don't want to be existing."

Viewers were extremely moved by the documentary, but as well as tears also shared how inspiring they found the podcast star - who was determined to enjoy life for as long as she could.

One tweeted: "That was beautifully done but has totally broken my heart. I’m sure many of you are feeling the same. Sending love to you all, and especially to Deborah’s beautiful family. What a woman. #bowelbabe #inherownwords"

Another shared: "Goodness me I am broken watching the Deborah James documentary. What a wonderful woman."

And another said: "My goodness you are truly one of the most heroic women ever Your children will continue the legacy and always remember what a incredible Mum you were @BBCTwo what a wonderful tribute to Deborah."

Deborah presented the BBC Radio 5 podcast You, Me & The Big C which she launched in 2018 with fellow cancer patients Lauren Mahon and Rachael Bland, who died aged 40 in 2018 after a two year battle with breast cancer.

James was parent to son Hugo, 15, and daughter Eloise, 13, with her husband Sebastien Bowen.

She announced in May 2022 she was stopping treatment and had moved into hospice care at her parents' home.

Read more: Lorraine Kelly celebrates life of Dame Deborah James

Before her death she set up the Bowel Babe fund in her name, which will support Cancer Research UK, The Institute of Cancer Research, The Royal Marsden hospital and promoting cancer awareness among younger people. It has now raised over £11m.

Watch: Dame Deborah James Bowelbabe cancer research fund has raised over £11m