Heartbreaking Update on Esther Rantzen’s Health by Her Daughter
Rebecca Wilcox, daughter of renowned broadcaster and charity campaigner Esther Rantzen, has shared a poignant health update regarding her mother, who is bravely battling terminal lung cancer. During her appearance on tonight’s 5 News, Rebecca revealed that a new medication intended to improve Esther’s condition has not yielded the hoped-for results.
When host Julian Druker asked about her mother’s treatment, Rebecca candidly stated, “I really wish that was true, but I don’t think that’s the case anymore.” The news comes as a further blow to the family, as Dame Esther, now 84, was diagnosed with stage four cancer in early 2023 after discovering a lump in her armpit.
Esther Rantzen has long been an advocate for the legalization of assisted dying in the UK, expressing her desire to potentially travel to Dignitas in Switzerland for an assisted death. She has emphasized, “The current law means my family could be prosecuted if I go. This is not right, and as it is my life, I, like the majority of the public, believe it should be my choice.”
Last year, Sir Keir Starmer voiced his support for a parliamentary vote on assisted dying within five years, stating that “delay just prolongs the agony.” Esther herself previously reflected on her situation during an appearance on the Today programme, saying, “Anything can happen. I live in a forest; a tree can fall on me. I’ve got to drop off my perch for some reason, and I’m 83, damn it. I should be jolly grateful, and indeed am.”
Rebecca has publicly supported changes to the regulations surrounding assisted dying in the UK, highlighting the emotional burden it places on families undergoing such traumatic experiences. Speaking on TalkTV’s Crosstalk, she shared her fears, stating, “The fact is only three people a year get prosecuted. But the actual process of going through a court case at what is the worst time of my life so far is unbearable. I will have to live without her, and please, please don’t make it worse for me by accusing me of murdering her and making me go through what would be a terrifying legal process.”
While Rebecca acknowledges her desire to prevent her mother from traveling to Switzerland for assisted dying, she ultimately respects Esther’s autonomy in making her own choices. In a heartfelt interview with Good Morning Britain, Rebecca expressed, “My mother never makes a decision in complete isolation but doesn’t care what anyone else thinks. It’s horrific, and she always promised us she would live forever, and she is not one to break her promises – but this is her choice.”
She added, “I would want to ground her plane if she was going to Zurich, but it’s her choice. She is absolutely correct. My late father didn’t have a good death; it was horrific. His death replaced our memories of him for a very long time. That is what mum wants to avoid.”