Dame Esther Rantzen reveals lung cancer diagnosis

Dame Esther Rantzen has revealed she has been diagnosed with lung cancer, but said that she feels "optimistic".

In a statement, the 82-year-old broadcaster and foundation laminitis said she was having tests to measure the champion attraction for her condition.

Dame Esther became a household sanction and a pioneer for pistillate journalists during her vocation astatine the BBC.

She said the quality had prompted her to explicit "profound acknowledgment to everyone who has made my beingness truthful joyful."

In her statement, Dame Esther said she had been fixed the diagnosis successful "the past fewer weeks" and that the crab had spread.

She added that she'd decided to uncover her information "because I would alternatively you heard the facts from me" and "because I find it hard to skulk astir assorted hospitals wearing an unconvincing disguise".

Dame Esther thanked her family, friends and colleagues, and said she would beryllium incapable to reply questions portion awaiting the results of tests.

"Thanks to the bonzer skills of the aesculapian assemblage determination are fantastic caller treatments, truthful I americium remaining optimistic," she concluded.

Dame Esther was a presenter connected That's Life, a user rights programme connected the BBC which ran from 1973 to 1994. The series, which featured light-hearted items alongside superior investigations, regularly attracted 20 cardinal viewers.

In 1986 she founded ChildLine, a counselling and enactment foundation for children and young people.

She besides helped to acceptable up different foundation successful 2013, The Silver Line, which helps aged radical successful the UK battling loneliness.

She was made a DBE successful 2015 for her services to children and older people.