Dame Esther Rantzen has disclosed that her cancer medication has ceased to be effective, leaving her with 'extremely limited' time. The 85-year-old broadcaster, diagnosed with incurable lung cancer three years ago, said her body no longer responds to the life-preserving drugs.
Writing in the Observer, Dame Esther revealed she is now battling a different form of cancer, requiring chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but she will not receive treatment. 'The drug has stopped working now and a scan next week will reveal how far my disease has spread,' she wrote.
Dame Esther, who has been a vocal advocate for assisted dying, expressed concern that she will not live to see the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill become law. The bill, passed by the House of Commons in June, would allow terminally ill adults with six months to live to end their lives subject to approvals. It is currently in the committee stage with numerous amendments.
She stated that if her life becomes unbearably painful, she will have to travel alone to Dignitas in Switzerland, as assisted dying remains illegal in the UK. 'I'm not afraid of death but I am afraid of dying badly,' she said in a previous interview.
Dame Esther is best known for presenting 'That's Life!' and founding the children's charity Childline in 1986.
