Dame Esther Rantzen has revealed her lung cancer is now at stage four, after previously announcing in January that she had been diagnosed with the disease.
The broadcaster, who founded Childline, said in an exclusive interview with The Mirror : “I’m on one of the new medications, and nobody knows if it’s working or not. But I will have a scan fairly soon which will reveal one way or another."
Esther, 82, said she is "remaining optimistic" and had "decided not to keep this secret any more because I find it difficult to skulk around various hospitals wearing an unconvincing disguise".
Stage four is when cancer has spread from where it started to another body organ.
Lung cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer with more than than 43,000 people diagnosed in the UK every year. However, like other illnesses there are many misconceptions about the disease.
So, what do you need to know? Here are some important facts about lung cancer...
1. Lung cancer can affect people of any age
"Lung cancer is certainly more common in older people - the average age of diagnosis is 70 years," says John Costello, a retired pulmonologist who worked at the Mayo Clinic.
However, this doesn't mean it only affects older people. Lisa Jacques, lead specialist cancer nurse at Perci Health, says: "Most people develop lung cancer in their 60s and 70s, after many years of smoking, but occasionally people get lung cancer at a much younger age, even in their 20s and 30s."
2. Lung cancer is not always caused by smoking
Although smoking can certainly increase your chances of developing lung cancer, it is not the only cause.
"Smoking is the cause of most lung cancers and the biggest risk factor, but about 10% of people who get lung cancer have never smoked," explains Jacques.
Costello adds: "There are some lung cancers which are genetic and may not be smoking-related, and some others are caused by exposures to substances like asbestos, radon gas and passive smoking" - although these are relatively uncommon.
3. Stopping smoking can help protect you
Costello says: "Some of the damage and inflammation caused by smoking can be reversible, but in particular, emphysema is architectural destruction of the lung which causes extreme breathlessness and cannot be reversed."
So quitting smoking might reduce your risk and is always worthwhile for your health - but not starting the habit at all is much better.
4. Lung cancer is not always deadly
"Lung cancer has a 65percent survival rate for five years in people with localised disease," says Costello. "If it has spread around the body at the time of diagnosis, the survival rate is only 8percent"
However, he says there are "new techniques in screening for lung cancer, such as CT scans in smokers over 50 years with a serious tobacco background". These "may pick up very small early tumours, which can be removed with up to an 80-90% five-year survival rate".
Therefore, if you any symptoms, such as a persistent cough, it is best to get it checked.
5. Men are more likely to get it but women still need to be aware
According to Cancer Research UK, men are four percent more likely to get the disease than women. However, the margin is small, and women absolutely do need to be aware of lung cancer as well.
Costello says: "Lung cancer has been an increasing problem in women since they caught up with men in terms of smoking habit, and they are therefore at risk if they smoke, and some of the non-smoking related lung cancers are more common in women," says Costello.
Jacques adds: "It is the third most common cancer in the UK, and in women it is the second most common cancer type."
So, whether you smoke or not, look out for the symptoms of lung cancer - like a cough lasting longer than two or three weeks, recurring chest infections, breathlessness or aches and pains when breathing - and see your GP if you have any concerns.
