Dame Esther Rantzen gives heartbreaking update on cancer battle as she admits she’s celebrating Christmas early so there’s ‘more chance I’ll be alive’

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Dame Esther Rantzen has shared a poignant update about her cancer, revealing she’s celebrating Christmas ahead of schedule because she wants to increase the likelihood of being alive to enjoy it.

I was heartbroken to learn that the incredible journalist, who’s 85, received a stage four lung cancer diagnosis last year. It was terrifying to hear doctors initially gave her only weeks to live. It’s just awful, but she’s a fighter.

The actress shared last year that a new medication was significantly slowing her cancer’s progression, giving her the ability to make future plans.

Dame Esther recently shared with The Times that she’s been diagnosed with a second type of cancer and has undergone chemotherapy and radiotherapy this year as treatment.

Dame Esther has stopped receiving treatment because her doctor determined the side effects were more harmful than any positive effects she was experiencing.

Honestly, it just keeps getting worse. I recently found out I’m battling another cancer – a totally different one from the first! It’s been brutal, needing chemo and radiation… just when I thought things couldn’t get any harder. It’s like my body is constantly under attack.

Okay, so things aren’t great, but honestly, I’m kinda taking control. My doctor and I decided to stop treatment for now – the side effects were just awful and weren’t worth it. It means the cancer is still growing, which is terrifying, but the latest scan showed it’s happening super slowly. I’m trying to focus on that ‘slowly’ part, you know? I’m obsessed with every scan, every little detail… it’s my life now.

Dame Esther mentioned she’s hoping to celebrate Christmas with her family – her children and grandchildren – a bit earlier this year.

She’s planning a special Christmas celebration with her children and five grandchildren a little early this year. She wants to make sure she’s feeling well enough to enjoy it with them all, as she’s concerned about her health.

Dame Esther shared that she didn’t think she’d live to see another Christmas in 2023, making it especially joyful that she’s celebrating again this year.

I was really moved watching Kate Garraway recently. She understandably got emotional while talking with Dame Esther about the assisted dying bill on air, and it sparked a really important conversation. It’s a sensitive topic, and seeing her vulnerability really resonated with viewers, I think.

During a moving phone interview on Friday’s show, 58-year-old Kate appeared distressed as Dame Esther, who is terminally ill, shared her plans for the end of her life.

The host of That’s Life! urged the House of Lords not to stop the bill from progressing as they discuss it.

Dame Esther Rantzen shared that she intends to advocate for those with terminal illnesses throughout England and Wales. She also disclosed her own plans to travel to Dignitas in Switzerland, an organization that offers assisted dying services.

She explained that she wasn’t afraid of death itself, but rather the process of dying – specifically, a painful or difficult death. As someone else put it, it’s not death she fears, but the act of dying.

I’ve been carefully planning everything because, for me, going to Dignitas in Zurich alone is the only way I can have control over my passing. It’s the path I’ve chosen, and I’m making all the necessary arrangements to ensure it happens as I wish.

I simply want the chance to say goodbye to my loved ones and pass away peacefully, knowing they’ve seen I’m at peace.

Dame Esther pleaded with the House of Lords, asking them to give terminally ill patients the option to seek assistance if their suffering becomes too much to bear, offering them hope, confidence, and control over their final moments.

Dame Esther addressed concerns about how the bill might impact disabled people, specifically if it could be used against them if they required significant family support. She clarified that the bill doesn’t apply to disabled people unless they have a terminal illness and are expected to live for six months or less.

Earlier this year, Esther Rantzen shared that she doesn’t have much time left and spoke about her final wish, describing her prognosis as very limited.

Dame Esther Rantzen, who founded the Childline helpline, has spoken of her wish to be with her late husband, Desmond Wilcox, again. He sadly died of a heart attack in 2000 at the age of 69.

During an interview, she talked movingly about her strong connection with Desmond, and wondered if they might be reunited in the afterlife.

She shared with The Times that the idea of heaven is comforting, picturing it as a joyful reunion with loved ones she’s lost, including her parents, grandparents, and close friends and family. She specifically mentioned hoping to see Desmond again.

Esther and Desmond started a romantic relationship in 1968. At the time, he was her boss at the BBC.

They married in 1977 and spent 30 years together until his death, and had three children together.

In 2013, the presenter shared how heartbroken she was after her husband passed away, explaining she’d trade ten years of her life for just ten more minutes with him.

She said: ‘Desmond’s last words to me were, “I adore you”. I was sitting on his deathbed.

As a lifestyle expert, I’m often asked about what truly matters. And honestly? It’s moments, not years. I was sharing this with my son just last night. I told him, if I had a choice – an extra decade of life or just ten more minutes with my beloved Desi – I wouldn’t hesitate. Those ten minutes with her would be everything. It’s a sentiment I’ll carry with me always, because those connections are what make life meaningful.

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2025-11-29 14:04