inoble.jpgWhen British Broadcasting Corp. journalist Ivan Noble was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in 2002, he decided to chronicle his battle with cancer in an online journal.
Noble’s “tumor diary,” which ran for three years on the BBC News Website, featured stories about his radiotherapy, chemotherapy and brain surgeries. He wrote more than 60 entries in order to demystify the disease and to fight the powerlessness he felt. Thousands of people from all over the world read Noble’s diary on the Web and sent him encouraging feedback. He once said their words helped keep him alive. Noble experienced two periods of remission, but the tumor returned late last year.
Born in Leeds, England, Noble studied German at the University of Aston in Birmingham. He spent two years working as a translator in East Germany before joining the BBC. Prior to becoming the news Website’s science and technology correspondent, Noble worked as a sub-editor in Nairobi and trained other reporters in online journalism techniques.
Noble died on Feb. 1 at the age of 37. He is survived by his wife and two young children. Noble’s final column, written last year in anticipation of being too ill to work, was posted on Sunday. A collection of his diary entries will be published in book form later this year with all proceeds going to charity.
“What I wanted to do with this column was try to prove that it was possible to survive and beat cancer and not to be crushed by it,” Noble wrote. “Even though I have to take my leave now, I feel like I managed it. I have not been defeated.
• Read Noble’s Tumor Diary