Broadcasting legend Dame Esther Rantzen has shared a poignant update on her health, revealing she is holding Christmas celebrations early this year due to her ongoing battle with terminal lung cancer.
A Heartfelt Decision For Family Time
The 85-year-old, who is best known for establishing the charity Childline in 1986, explained the emotional reasoning behind her decision. She is not certain she will survive until the festive period in December.
"This year I am planning an 'official' Christmas with my children and five grandchildren, slightly ahead of the real Christmas," Esther told The Times. "So that there will be more chance that I am actually alive to enjoy it with them."
She described how her daughter, Rebecca, will still decorate her house beautifully with all the familiar baubles and tinsel, maintaining their cherished family traditions.
Living With Uncertainty and 'Scanxiety'
Esther's cancer journey began when she was diagnosed with lung cancer in January 2023. At the time, she did not expect to live to see another Christmas. The fact she has surpassed her initial prognosis is, in her words, a "wonderful surprise".
In a significant medical development, she confirmed that all treatment has now stopped. "This was my doctor's decision, as the side-effects outweigh the benefits," she revealed. While her cancers are progressing, recent scans indicate this is happening very slowly.
She also opened up about a common but rarely discussed mental health challenge for cancer patients, which she and others have named "scanxiety".
"Every scan, every three or four months, carries with it the possibility of bad news," Esther explained. "As the date approaches my anxiety levels rise."
Finding Joy and Campaigning For Change
Despite the sobering prognosis, Esther is finding moments of joy and looking to the future. Having initially believed she had only weeks to live, she is now planning ahead.
"I have just had great fun ordering tulip bulbs for the spring as well as making sure I have a turkey for our family Christmas," she shared.
Since her terminal diagnosis, the mother of three and grandmother of five has become a tireless campaigner for the legalisation of assisted dying in the UK, adding her powerful voice to a significant national debate.
If she is still here for the actual Christmas Day and New Year, she looks forward to quiet, relaxing days at home, enriched by exuberant Zoom and phone calls with loved ones.
