DAME Esther Rantzen has opened up about her lung cancer diagnosis which has “spread” to other parts of her body.
The broadcasting legend said she was due to undergo tests to assess possible treatments and that she remained “optimistic”.
The broadcaster and charity founder is remaining “optimistic”
Dame Esther’s lung cancer has spread to other parts of her body
Dame Esther became a household name during her career at the BBC.
Esther, 82, who hosted BBC show That’s Life! for over two decades, said she had been “hiding” her hospital visits.
The former I’m A Celeb star, who entered the jungle in 2014, revealed she had been wearing a “disguise” in hospital to avoid the secret from spreading among her fans.
“I have decided not to keep this secret any more because I find it difficult to skulk around various hospitals wearing an unconvincing disguise,” she added.
“I would rather you heard the facts from me.”
Esther, the founder of charities Childline and The Silver Line, said she was undergoing “various tests” to assess the “best treatment”.
The 8 red flag signs of lung cancer you need to know
Here are the important signs to look out for, according to the NHS:
- A cough that doesn’t go away after two or three weeks
- A long standing cough that gets worse
- Persistent chest infections
- Coughing up blood
- An ache or pain when breathing or coughing
- Persistent breathlessness
- Persistent tiredness or lack of energy
- Loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss
There are other less common symptoms to look out for such as changes in the appearance of your fingers, such as them becoming more curved or the ends becoming larger.
Medics at Cancer Research UK said some people have swollen fingers and nails, also known as finger clubbing.
In most cases, it might not be cancer, but the charity explained that the issue can be a sign of underlying health conditions present in the lungs and heart.
It’s not clear what causes the clubbing, but research from the charity shows that it may be due to large cells such as megakaryocytes, which get stuck in the small blood vessels at the tips of the fingers.
Also swelling of the face and neck, persistent chest or shoulder pain and a hoarse voice could all be signs.
Esther added that she is currently awaiting results from further tests.
She thanked the ‘extraordinary skills of the medical profession’ and added that there are now ‘wonderful new treatments’.
“So I am remaining optimistic,” she adeed.
If you have any of these and are concerned it’s important to get them checked by a doctor.
In the event of an emergency, always call 999 or visit your nearest A&E department.
