has revealed fears her came from the asbestos from her previous place of work at the .
The 83-year-old presenter admitted she often wonders if sheafter breathing in toxic fibres used in building the Lime Grove studios in , where her show, That’s Life, was based for several years.
‘I’m making the most of each day, usually by sitting in my garden… enjoying the fresh air, the birds and the summer flowers,’ she explained.
However, as well as trying to relax she has been thinking about her illness: ‘And occasionally wondering whether my particular brand of lung cancer was caused by all the asbestos in the BBC building I worked in for decades – or by the air pollution I walked and drove through during my many years as a Londoner.
‘But in my 80s, I knew I had to die of something.’
According to the , the BBC has reportedly paid out £1.64 million in damages to 11 families of former staff who died of cancer after working in 18 of its asbestos-riddled buildings, including Lime Grove – which was demolished in 1993 – and Television Centre.
The BBC told Metro.co.uk: ‘The health and safety of BBC staff and all who use BBC buildings is a primary concern and the BBC manages asbestos in accordance with all regulations and statutory requirements.’
While speaking to Dame Esther added that her cancer diagnosis has made her look back on her life and she’s thankful to have had so many ‘amazing’ people around her.
‘This diagnosis has prompted me to look back over the years, and I want to express my profound thanks to everyone who has made my life so joyful, filled with fun, and with inspiration,’ she proclaimed.
This includes her children Miriam, Rebecca and Joshua, and close friends.
It was in January this year that Dame Esther, who founded the ChildLine and The Silver Line, revealed that she had been which had ‘spread’, but remained ‘optimistic’.
A few months later, she was on due to the condition, before later disclosing that .
The beloved media personality spoke in more detail about her health in a pre-recorded interview with Alex Jones, explaining that her doctor told her that she was .
‘It does concentrate your mind to be told you’ve got to stage 4 lung cancer. You do think, “Well, wait a minute. I’ve got less time than maybe I had assumed so you prioritise,”’ she said.
