Dame Esther Rantzen is creating a new Christmas, one celebrated before December 25th, driven by a deeply personal hope: to be alive to share it with her family. The beloved broadcaster and Childline founder, 85, received a terminal lung cancer diagnosis in early 2023, a revelation she met with characteristic openness and a fierce determination to live fully.
But the journey has taken an unexpected turn. Alongside the initial diagnosis, a second, different cancer has emerged, a development she describes with a wry acknowledgement of its “annoyance.” To be facing two battles simultaneously is a challenge, yet it hasn’t diminished her spirit or her desire to create lasting memories.
“This year, we’re having an ‘official’ Christmas a little early,” she shared, envisioning a gathering with her children and five grandchildren. The initial diagnosis hadn’t offered hope for reaching this Christmas, making the prospect of celebrating now a profound and unexpected gift.
Her initial lung cancer responded remarkably to a new “wonder drug,” shrinking tumors and offering a reprieve. However, it was always understood as a delay, not a cure. The recent second diagnosis necessitates chemotherapy and radiotherapy, adding another layer to her treatment journey.
Currently, she’s not undergoing treatment, a decision made in consultation with her doctor, who believes the side effects would outweigh the benefits. While the cancers continue to progress, scans reveal a reassuringly slow pace. Yet, a new emotional burden has emerged – “scanxiety,” the rising dread as scan dates approach, carrying the weight of potential bad news.
Dame Esther’s career began humbly, behind the scenes at the BBC, but she quickly rose to prominence with the groundbreaking show *That’s Life!* It wasn’t simply entertainment; it was a force for change, tackling difficult issues and championing the vulnerable. This commitment to helping others led to the creation of Childline, a lifeline for children in need, and later, The Silver Line, offering support to the elderly.
Her advocacy extends to the deeply personal. Dame Esther has become a powerful voice in the campaign to legalize assisted dying, even making arrangements to travel to Dignitas in Switzerland. She envisions a future where others won’t face the same difficult choices, a future she may not live to see.
She is deeply impressed by Kim Leadbeater, the MP championing the Assisted Dying Bill, recognizing the hope it offers to countless individuals. Despite knowing she likely won’t witness its passage, Dame Esther finds solace in the possibility that her struggle will contribute to a more compassionate future for others.
The current legal landscape presents a heartbreaking dilemma. Traveling to Dignitas alone is necessary to protect her family from potential legal repercussions, a situation she finds “messy and wrong.” Her greatest wish is to die surrounded by loved ones, at home, but she accepts that may not be possible.
The Assisted Dying Bill requires approval from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords before Parliament’s session ends this spring. If passed, it would offer terminally ill adults the right to choose an assisted death, subject to rigorous safeguards and medical evaluations. For Dame Esther, it represents a final act of control and a legacy of compassion.
