Dame Esther Rantzen has terminal cancer.

Veteran broadcaster Dame Esther Rantzen is no longer responding to the medication she is treated with for her lung cancer, her daughter has revealed.

The television legend is battling the terminal condition after finding a lump under her armpit. It followed her feeling tired over the Christmas period in December 2022.

Just weeks later, a biopsy confirmed she had stage four cancer and, since her diagnosis, the 84-year-old has spoken openly about the Assisted Dying Bill, which is currently being debated by Parliament.

However, the law could take several years to be implemented due to additional safeguarding being put in place as the bill continues to go through the MPs.

Meanwhile, the campaigner and journalist has even shared her views on dying at Dignitas, due to assisted dying currently being illegal in the United Kingdom.

But Dame Esther knows that if she did travel to Switzerland, her family could face repercussions. “My family could be prosecuted if I go,” she said previously, The Mirror reports.

Now, in a new interview, Dame Esther’s daughter, Rebecca Wilcox has shared a heartbreaking health update. When asked about a new medication which was initially believed to help improve Dame Esther’s condition, Rebecca revealed that this was not the case.

She told 5 News: “I really wish that was true,” she said, adding: “I don’t think that’s the case anymore.” Rebecca has previously spoken about the heart-wrenching possibility of facing prosecution for accompanying her mother, to the assisted dying clinic in Switzerland.

In an intimate interview with Hello!, Rebecca recounted her mother’s words: “My mum said that she lost her mother, her husband and her dog within a very short time and that of the three, the dog had the most wonderful death, and the others didn’t.”

Facing the grim reality, Rebecca expressed her hope that the trip to Dignitas isn’t imminent, but admitted the legal risks involved: “We’re just hoping that flight to Dignitas doesn’t have to happen any time soon.

“I can’t say whether I’d go with her because I’d face prosecution, which would be a nightmare at the worst time in my life and something I don’t think I’d ever get over.” She added: “But it would be a very strange version of me that would let her go alone.”

In December, TV presenter Angela Rippon, a close friend of Dame Esther, also revealed that Dame Esther felt “relieved” when her assisted dying bill received support from Parliament.

The proposal to allow a terminally ill person with less than six months to live assistance to end their life passed by 330 votes to 275. Dame Esther is terminally ill with lung cancer and revealed she had joined Dignitas, the assisted dying clinic in Switzerland, last year.

Angela, 80, has been friends with Esther for more than 30 years, and the pair still regularly speak on the phone. “She is an amazing person,” praises Angela.

“All her life she’s used her platform to create change. Silver Line, Childline, and all of those things that she’s done. Now because this is very personal to her, she’s used that influence that she has and that power that she has. She’s done it again.

“I think she is thrilled over what happened. I think she’s delighted and I think she’s relieved.” Dame Esther has terminal cancer and has spoken about wanting to decide to end her life when her quality of life deteriorates.

Her passionate campaigning on the subject led to the bill being brought. Speaking at the Television and Radio Club Christmas lunch, Angela continued: “Esther has made a big impact, of course she did, but she has all her life.

All her life she’s been an inspiration to people for all sorts of things. “And I think that this is very personal for her. The great thing with Esther is that when she takes on a campaign, she discovers that there are thousands of people who join in with her and support her.

“And I think that everything she’s done, whether it was Childline or Silverline or now supporting Leadbeater on this, it’s another of those instances where she’s actually been a really important figure in a campaign and I think that’s absolutely brilliant.”

The Macmillan Support Line offers confidential support to people living with cancer and their loved ones. If you need to talk, call us on 0808 808 0000.