Dame Esther Rantzen has openly discussed a distressing update on her health, revealing that her cancer treatment is no longer effective.
The esteemed 85-year-old broadcaster, who was diagnosed with incurable lung cancer three years ago, has ceased receiving treatment as her body is no longer responding to the medication aimed at prolonging her life. She expressed that her time is now limited.
Last year, after advocating for assisted dying, Dame Esther faced a new battle with a different form of cancer that required chemotherapy and radiotherapy, treatments she has opted not to pursue.
In an article for the Observer, she reflected on the three-year anniversary of her stage four lung cancer diagnosis, acknowledging that a recent scan indicated the current medication is no longer working, and the upcoming scan will reveal the extent of the disease’s progression.
Regrettably, she acknowledged that she will not live to see the assisted dying bill become law and if her suffering becomes unbearable, she will consider seeking a painless death at Dignitas in Switzerland.
The Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, passed by the House of Commons in June, proposes to allow terminally ill individuals over 18 with six months or less to live the option of early termination, subject to approval by medical professionals and an expert panel. Currently, assisted dying is illegal in the UK with severe penalties.
The bill is facing challenges in the House of Lords, with numerous proposed amendments potentially delaying its implementation.
Dame Esther, a renowned figure for her work on That’s Life! and founding Childline in 1986, shared her fears about a distressing death and her desire for a peaceful farewell with her family.
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