Brave Esther Rantzen 'surrounded by family' in cancer battle, close pal says
Angela Rippon has paid tribute to friend Dame Esther Rantzen who is battling lung cancer by surrounding herself with family at home.
Angela said her fellow TV star, who in May revealed she had stage four cancer, remains upbeat despite her advanced illness.
She added: “She’s dealing with it as Esther would. She’s happy. The last time we had any lengthy conversation, she was very happy being in her home in the country with her family around her.
“And that now is where she’s happy. She’s got family around her, friends around her and she dictates when she’s happy to talk.”
Former BBC newsreader Angela, 78, described Dame Esther’s achievements with Childline and The Silver Line, which gives advice to older people, as outstanding. She added: “She’s someone who has put back into life, and put back into her public.
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“She read her public and knew children needed Childline and people who were retired needed Silver Line, and she stepped up and provided it.
“In that, she was just a titan in the way she did that. A total one-off. Everybody wishes her the very best.”
Dame Esther revealed how long she has left to live in a recent BBC interview (BBC)At the start of the year Esther, who turned 83 last month, was diagnosed with lung cancer that had spread into her armpit.
In May, she revealed her illness had deteriorated, adding: “I’m on one of the new medications, and nobody knows if it’s working or not. But I will have a scan fairly soon, which will reveal one way or another.”
The former host of consumer affairs TV show That’s Life! said her stage four cancer diagnosis had made her realise how lucky she had been in life, working with Childline and The Silver Line.
She added: “And meeting so many fascinating and inspiring people, and especially lucky to have spent 21 years working as producer/presenter of That’s Life!”
The mum-of-three also told the Mirror she is not good at regrets.
She added: “What I treasure most are the fantastic friendships I have made thanks to That’s Life! during the last 50 years, the people I met and the team who worked so hard, and laughed so hard, together for so long.”
Esther Rantzen with her late husband Desmond Wilcox (ExpressStar)
Dame Esther is 'happy' despite her cancer battle (PA)Esther, who quit smoking 50 years ago, has a form of lung cancer unrelated to smoking.
Following her diagnosis she joked about being mistaken for pal Angela in hospital, which prompted her to reveal her condition to avoid misinformation.
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She wrote in the Times: “On my way to one of the scans in the hospital I was recognised in a lift by another patient.
“Admittedly, she thought I was Angela Rippon, but that was fairly close, and I was flattered. But it made me realise that one way or another the news would leak, probably inaccurately.
“And I’ve learnt that trying to keep a secret never works. It just means that you’re caught unprepared and on the back foot. Far better to break a piece of news yourself.”
In January, when she revealed her initial diagnosis, Dame Esther said: “At the age of 82, this diagnosis has prompted me to look back over the years, and I want to express my profound thanks to everyone who has made my life so joyful, filled with fun, and with inspiration.
“First and foremost my family. My three children Miriam, Rebecca and Joshua have been the most wonderful support, company and source of love and laughter and I am deeply grateful to them.
“My friends have been amazing and have created memories which sustain me and give me strength.”
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