She was first diagnosed in 2023

Dame Esther Rantzen has given fans an update as she continues to battle incurable cancer.

The veteran star celebrated her 85th birthday yesterday (June 22) and, today, she opened up on where she’s at with her cancer journey.

Dame Esther was first diagnosed back in 2023. In May of the same year, she revealed that her lung cancer had reached stage 4 and she was on a new form of medication. She then stepped out of the limelight to focus on her health.

Today (June 23), she made a rare appearance on TV, and issued a health update…


Dame Esther celebrated her 85th birthday yesterday (Credit: ITV)

Dame Esther Rantzen appears on Loose Women

Dame Esther Rantzen appeared on Loose Women today via phone call to talk about the Assisted Dying Bill.

The bill, which has been passed by MPs, will give terminally ill people with less than six months to live the right to choose to end their own life after approval from doctors and a panel.

85th birthday celebrations

Speaking today, Dame Esther admitted that a side effect of her cancer that she wasn’t expecting was the fatigue, which “stops” her from doing things she would like to do.

Because of this, she had to take breaks throughout her birthday celebrations yesterday with her family. But that didn’t stop her from enjoying the day, which was shown in a new photograph shown on Loose Women.

Health update – drugs ‘not working now’

Dame Esther explained that she has been able to enjoy an “additional couple of years” of her life due to new drugs that target specific kinds of cancer.

I have had these additional couple of years, which I certainly didn’t expect.

She said: “They have these amazing new drugs now which target the specific kind of cancer you’ve got. I had one of those drugs that lasted for quite some time.”

However, she sadly added: “It’s not working now. But I have had these additional couple of years, which I certainly didn’t expect.”


Dame Esther last made a TV appearance a year ago (Credit: ITV)

Dame Esther on her upcoming cancer treatment

Dame Esther went on to reveal that she wouldn’t qualify for the new bill as she has not been given the “important six months deadline” from the hospital yet. She then revealed that she is set to undergo more treatment this week, and then she will know where she is at with her own cancer.

“I haven’t yet been given that important six months deadline. The literal deadline. Because nobody knows. But I’m due to have another chemotherapy session this week.

“Then I will have a scan so they can see what is happening to this cancer to see if it has started to spread or not. Whether or not it is still being held back. So under the new law, I would not be eligible.”