Beloved broadcaster and campaigner Dame Esther Rantzen has made the poignant decision to celebrate Christmas early with her family this year, fearing she may not survive until December 25.
A Heartfelt Pre-Christmas Gathering
The 85-year-old journalist, who received an incurable lung cancer diagnosis in January 2023, continues to astonish herself by reaching personal milestones nearly three years after her initial prognosis. The founder of Childline and The Silver Line has arranged what she calls an "official" Christmas celebration with her children and five grandchildren ahead of schedule to increase the likelihood she'll be present to enjoy it.
"Although I live alone, Rebecca (Dame Esther's daughter) will come and decorate the house beautifully, as she has done every year with all my old baubles and bits of tinsel," Dame Esther shared. Following her diagnosis, the cancer quickly progressed to Stage 4, and her family previously disclosed that medication had stopped working as she wasn't responding to treatment.
Living with 'Scanxiety' and Campaigning for Change
Despite celebrating two additional Christmases since her diagnosis, the television legend remains uncertain about reaching this year's festive season. In a candid interview with The Times, she revealed: "When I was diagnosed with lung cancer in January 2023, I did not expect to last until the next Christmas, so the fact that I am still here and looking forward to this one is a wonderful surprise."
Dame Esther currently receives no treatment after her doctor decided the side-effects outweighed the benefits. She described experiencing "scanxiety" - anxiety that builds before each scan every three to four months. "Since I have no idea what is actually happening inside my own body, but every scan carries with it the possibility of bad news, as the date approaches my anxiety levels rise," she explained.
Finding Hope in Campaign Work and Small Joys
The grandmother from Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire has been vigorously campaigning to legalise assisted dying since her diagnosis. The Assisted Dying Bill was approved by MPs in June and now rests with the House of Lords, though Dame Esther believes she won't see it passed in her lifetime.
Despite the challenges, she finds hope in her advocacy work and life's simple pleasures. "When I started this journey, as they say on Strictly, I assumed that I'd fall off my perch in weeks, not months, let alone years," she said. "But given that I may last longer than I ever expected, 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."
Dame Esther remains optimistic, adding that if she survives until the actual holiday, she looks forward to "relaxing, quiet days at home, spiced up with plenty of exuberant Zoom and phone calls."
