Jamie East, the Birmingham-born television and radio presenter best known for hosting Big Brother's Bit on the Side, has revealed his diagnosis with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) and detailed the 'brutal' side effects of his treatment. The 52-year-old, who began his career in the punk band The Beekeepers, hopes future patients will have better options than he did.
Diagnosis and Treatment Journey
East was diagnosed in June 2025 after noticing swollen glands in his neck. Despite being fit and regularly attending the gym, blood tests and a bone marrow biopsy confirmed CML. He faced a choice between two medications: imatinib and dasatinib. Initially opting for the gentler imatinib, his blood results later fell out of range, forcing a switch to dasatinib. The side effects were severe, including constant headaches and a rash, though they subsided after a few days. East expressed regret, stating that if he had known which treatment was best for his specific leukaemia from the start, he would have chosen that.
Groundbreaking Research
East recently visited a lab funded by Leukaemia UK, where Professor David Vetrie at the University of Glasgow is leading research into why CML patients respond differently to treatment. The study has identified two distinct types of leukaemic stem cells, likened to cars traveling to the same destination via different motorway routes. This discovery could pave the way for more personalised therapies. Professor Vetrie's team has received a £250,000 grant from Leukaemia UK to develop targeted drugs that eliminate these stem cells, potentially transforming CML management.
Hope for the Future
East expressed optimism about the research, noting that it could provide reassurance to patients by identifying their disease pathway from day one. Simon Ridley, Director of Research and Advocacy at Leukaemia UK, praised the pioneering work, while Professor Vetrie emphasised the goal of improving outcomes for as many CML patients as possible.
