Dame Esther Rantzen opened up about her terminal cancer diagnosis on Monday’s Loose Women

Esther Rantzen said “I want a swift, pain-free death” while discussing her terminal cancer diagnosis.

The esteemed broadcaster was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 2023 and has since become a member of the Swiss assisted dying clinic, Dignitas.

Together with her daughter, Rebecca Wilcox, Esther has been advocating for the assisted dying bill, which would permit certain terminally ill individuals in England and Wales to seek medical help to end their lives.

The bill recently received approval from MPs at its third reading, leading it to progress to the House of Lords.

Esther, who recently celebrated her 85th birthday, appeared on ITV’s Loose Women on Monday (June 23) to share her views on the bill and provide an update on her cancer, reports Belfast Live.

Loose Women

Dame Esther Rantzen appeared on Loose Women on Monday (June 23) (Image: ITV)

“One of the things about cancer which I think people don’t realise, I didn’t realise, is that it can create fatigue, which means you can’t do the things you would like to do like join Loose Women,” she explained over the phone.

“I thought I had a very, very short time [after diagnosis] and that’s why I quickly signed up to Dignitas so I could choose an assisted death if things got really rough.

“But they’ve got these amazing new drugs now which target the specific kind of cancer you’ve got, and I’ve had one of those drugs which lasted for quite some time.

“It’s not working now, but it did sometimes, so I’ve had this additional couple of years, which I certainly didn’t expect. Who knew I’d be 85, heavens.”

Esther also expressed her “enormous relief” following the recent passing of the assisted dying bill in the House of Commons.

Dame Esther Rantzen

Esther Rantzen was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 2023 (Image: PA Archive/PA Images)

“The choice is being made by the patient, and I think some people do find that difficult. Some of my closest relatives and best friends are psychiatrists, and I’m not sure psychiatrists are always happy to give control back to the patient,” she continued.

“But that’s what we’re asking for. We’re saying, ‘It’s my death, please give me the choice of deciding when life becomes unendurable, too painful, too undignified when I would prefer please to be helped to ease out of life.’

“I want a pain-free death, I want a swift, pain-free death, and that’s what they can give me now. So, if it’s my choice, please give me the right to that choice.”

Concluding, Esther remarked: “It is wonderful that we’ve got enough evidence from around other countries that have formed their own laws to understand what would be practical, what would work best for this country and what we could achieve in Parliament, and that’s what we’ve done.”

Loose Women airs weekdays on ITV1 and ITVX at 12.30pm