Dame Esther Rantzen has claimed that after being diagnosed with lung cancer, she asked her doctor for her life expectancy.
The 83-year-old TV personality disclosed she had the condition in January, adding she was undergoing several tests to discover the ‘optimal treatment.’
She went on to say that she no longer wanted to keep it a secret since she disliked “skulking about numerous hospitals wearing an unconvincing masquerade.”
Dame Esther provided another health update in May, revealing that she had been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer.
She stated that the diagnosis caused her to think on how’very blessed’ she has been in life, as well as her ‘great friendships.’
The same month, she was scheduled to appear on The One Show to commemorate the 50th anniversary of That’s Life, the show she hosted from 1973 to 1994.
Due to her terrible condition, she was compelled to miss her appearance.
Instead, the segment was moved to Friday’s episode of the BBC One show, in which Dame Esther was interviewed at her house by Alex Jones, 46.
Alex asked the broadcasting legend ‘where she was now’ with her diagnosis, adding that her fans ‘would want to know.’
Dame Esther replied: ‘I want to know. I did say to my oncologist, “When am I going to die?” And he said, “Sometime in the next 10 years. But how soon, how late I do not know.”
‘It does concentrate your mind to be told you’ve got to stage 4 lung cancer. You do think, “Well, wait a minute. I’ve got less time than maybe I had assumed so you priortise.
‘Because as much as I love it and as much as I respect people who die working, for me I didn’t want to die working.’
Dame Esther is most known for hosting That’s Life! for 21 years, a show that featured a combination of investigations, current events, and entertainment.
In addition to her career as a journalist and presenter, Dame Esther founded the children’s charity Childline in 1986, as well as The Silver Line, which helps those who are lonely.
The One Show airs weekdays from 7pm on BBC One.
Macmillan cancer support
If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with cancer, Macmillan can offer support and information.
You can contact their helpline on 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week from 8am to 8pm), use their webchat service, or visit their site for more information.
Source My Celebrity Life.
