Dame Esther Rantzen is creating a Christmas memory, and bringing it forward. Not out of festive eagerness, but with a poignant awareness of time, fueled by a relentless battle with cancer.
Diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in early 2023, the beloved broadcaster and Childline founder, 85, initially didn’t anticipate reaching another Christmas. The unexpected gift of time, thanks to a “wonder drug” that initially shrank her tumors, has allowed for a precious opportunity.
But the fight has taken a complex turn. A recent, separate cancer diagnosis has introduced a new challenge, requiring chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She describes the double blow as “quite annoying,” a testament to her characteristic resilience even in the face of profound adversity.
This year, Christmas will arrive a little early for Dame Esther and her family – a deliberate choice to maximize the chance of sharing joy together. She wants to be fully present, surrounded by her children and five grandchildren, creating a lasting memory against the odds.
The initial lung cancer responded remarkably to new targeted treatments, offering a temporary reprieve. However, doctors cautioned that it wasn’t a cure, merely a slowing of the disease’s progression. The latest diagnosis adds another layer of complexity to her health journey.
Currently, she isn’t undergoing treatment, as the side effects are deemed more detrimental than the potential benefits. Despite the cancers continuing to advance, recent scans reveal a reassuringly slow pace, offering a small measure of comfort.
Dame Esther has also opened up about a surprising and unsettling emotional burden: “scanxiety.” The uncertainty surrounding each scan, the looming possibility of difficult news, creates a rising tide of anxiety as the appointment date nears. It’s a uniquely cancer-related fear she and others have named to acknowledge its power.
Her career began humbly, with sound effects and research roles at the BBC. But she rose to prominence with the groundbreaking show *That’s Life!*, a program that fearlessly tackled social issues, from exposing abuse to championing organ donation. It was a platform that defined her commitment to advocacy.
That spirit of advocacy led to the creation of Childline, a lifeline for vulnerable children, and later The Silver Line, offering support to the elderly. More recently, she has become a powerful voice in the campaign for assisted dying, a deeply personal cause.
She has already made arrangements to travel to Dignitas in Switzerland, should she choose that path, but deeply regrets the circumstances that prevent her family from accompanying her. Current laws could expose loved ones to legal repercussions, a situation she finds “messy and wrong.”
Her hope rests on the passage of the Assisted Dying Bill through Parliament, a bill championed by Kim Leadbeater. Dame Esther believes this legislation could offer a compassionate choice to countless others facing terminal illness, even if she won’t live to see it become law.
Despite the knowledge of her limited time, she finds solace in the possibility that her struggle might pave the way for a more dignified end for others. To die surrounded by family, at home, is her ultimate wish, a wish she hopes will become a reality for future generations.
