Esther Rantzen talks about her battle with cancer: awaiting scan results.

Esther Rantzen awaits scan results

According to The Sun: Television legend Dame Esther Rantzen shared her feelings about the results of an examination that will show how far cancer has progressed. She admitted to feeling uncertain as she awaits the scan results. The star of the program 'That’s Life', who is 85 years old, noted that she has become accustomed to the term 'scanxiety' after starting experimental treatment.

On Radio 4, when asked by host Evan Davis 'how are you?', she replied:

“Well, I never know for sure. I'm between scans, and there is a condition we all know too much about, namely - scanxiety.”

Dame Esther discovered her stage four lung cancer in January 2023 and is receiving experimental treatment, but as of March 2025, her condition has not improved. She has already visited the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland, expressing her desire to end her life peacefully if the treatment does not yield results.

Possible cause of cancer

BBC suggests that the cancer may have been caused by exposure to asbestos. On the program Loose Women, she shared her thoughts on health:

“I thought I had a very short time [after diagnosis], and so I quickly signed up to Dignitas to have the option of assisted dying if everything goes very badly.”

Esther also remarked on new drugs targeting specific types of cancer:

“These new drugs have emerged, and I had one of them that worked for a while.”

Daughter's concerns about legal consequences

Daughter of the television legend, Rebecca, expressed concerns about the possible legal consequences of her mother's decision to seek Dignitas. She emphasized:

“I don’t want to remember my mother the way I remember my father, who died hooked up to tubes surrounded by medical staff.”

Rebecca urged authorities to be sensitive in this difficult situation:

“Please don't make this worse for me by accusing me of assisted suicide.”

Esther Rantzen became famous for hosting the program 'That’s Life' for 21 years from 1973 to 1994, which attracted up to 20 million viewers.

Dignitas and assisted dying

The Dignitas clinic, founded in 1998, has helped over 2,100 people die with assisted dying either at home or in its facility near Zurich.

Esther Rantzen's life remains marked by trials and challenges, but her courage in the fight against the disease inspires many. The issue of assisted dying she has raised underscores the complexity of the ethical and legal aspects concerning the end of life. The situation highlights the importance of open discussions about the right to choose at the end of life, which remain relevant in many countries around the world.