Linda Nolan has given a heartbreaking update on her cancer, revealing her tumours have “grown” because her treatment has “stopped working”.
The singer, 65, was first diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in 2005 before being given the all-clear in 2006. But in 2017 she was diagnosed with an incurable secondary form of cancer in her hip, which spread to her liver in 2020.
Last year, she shared the news that the cancer had spread to her brain and two tumors had been discovered on the left side of her brain leaving her with difficulty speaking and maintaining balance.
However, while the disease appeared to be stable in Linda’s recent updates, her latest prognosis revealed the devastating news that two of her largest tumors have grown in size, while more pockets of cancer have been found.
In a new interview, Linda admitted she was left “sobbing” when the doctor gave her the results and said she wished the cancer would “just leave her alone.”
Linda Nolan has given a heartbreaking update on her cancer, revealing her tumours have ‘grown’ because her treatment has ‘stopped working’
The singer, 65, was first diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in 2005 before being given the all-clear in 2006. But in 2017 she was diagnosed with an incurable secondary form of cancer in her hip, which spread to her liver in 2020.
She said The mirror“I cried when my doctor first told me. I know there are a lot of people out there who are suffering and going through tough times, but I thought, could cancer just leave me alone, just for once? My heart sank.”
Explaining how she suspected something was wrong beforehand, she said: “I was afraid something was wrong. My balance has been getting worse and my memory… my sisters have to help me when I get lost in the middle of a sentence.”
Linda told how she was accompanied by her sister Maureen and her nurse MacMillan to the appointment and they immediately asked her specialist doctor if the cancer had spread.
After confirming this, he said he immediately asked what the next treatment would be.
The Nolans star will begin a new course of treatment on Wednesday that will include the life-prolonging breast cancer drug Enhertu, which is currently unavailable on the health service in England after its makers and the NHS spending watchdog failed to agree a price.
Linda said of the treatment: “Being able to try a new medication is amazing, I just wish everyone could have this opportunity. Being able to try this is a hope, it’s a plan B that not everyone is allowed to have. Taking this medication away from women is taking away their hope.”
But while Linda welcomes the new medication, the singer fears the side effects after doctors told her there was a “possibility” she could lose her hair – which would be the fifth time for Linda amid her years of chemotherapy.
However, the brave star is trying to stay positive as she insists she is “ready to try anything” and declares that, as she has done it before, she can “do it again”.
In Linda’s recent updates, her latest prognosis has revealed the devastating news that two of her largest tumors have grown in size, while more cancer spots have been found.
“I cried when my doctor first told me. I know a lot of people are suffering and going through things like this, but I thought, just for once, could cancer just leave me alone? My heart sank” (pictured with my sister Anne in August 2020)
In April, Linda revealed she is always “keen to make the most of life” amid her battle with cancer.
In an interview, she said that her main goal is to “create memories” with her family and fill her calendar with happy plans.
She said The mirror that since her birthday celebrations in February, she and her family have had a number of celebrations including her niece Amy’s birthday, her sister Coleen’s birthday and St Patrick’s Day celebrations.
Linda told the publication: ‘The WhatsApps are flying. As I told my therapist, it’s a strange life in my head. Not to mention the tumours, sometimes I feel like I have worms wriggling around in there.
‘I am constantly eager to make the most of life, to create memories, to enjoy every second and to make sure everyone enjoys their time with me.
In April, Linda revealed she is always “keen to make the most of life” amid her battle with cancer.
This week I’m realizing that maybe I’m putting too much pressure on myself. Can you have too much fun? No. But life never stops teaching you lessons, right? And just when you think you’ve got this whole cancer thing figured out.
Just days ago, Linda’s sister Coleen said it has become a daily ritual for her to check herself for signs of cancer every day after the tragic effects the disease has had on her family.
The Loose Women presenter, who is one of six sisters, candidly admitted she is scared of being the next member of her family affected by the disease.
Cancer has had a significant impact on the Nolan family after the sisters lost Bernie, 52, in 2013 following a three-year battle with breast cancer.
Meanwhile, Anne, 73, and Linda have also battled breast cancer.
Talking with The mirror Coleen spoke about the preventative measures she takes, explaining: “We’ve been through so much pain… I’m always checking in. I still have that doubt of ‘What if I missed it?'”
Just days ago, Linda’s sister Coleen said it has become a daily ritual for her to check herself for signs of cancer every day after the tragic effects the disease has had on her family.
Cancer has significantly affected the Nolan family after the sisters lost Bernie, 52, in 2013 after a three-year battle with breast cancer. Meanwhile, Anne, 73, and Linda, 65, have also battled breast cancer.
In 2013, Bernie Nolan passed away after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 and despite being given the all clear, the disease returned in 2012.
‘Whenever I’m in the shower, I touch myself and check myself carefully, and if at any point I think “I don’t like it,” I go to the doctor immediately and he’ll tell me “it’s okay, it’s just a small cyst or an infection.”
Although Coleen hopes she doesn’t contract the disease, she explained that if she is unlucky, she wants to catch it early.
Revealing how much she spends on healthcare, she admitted: “My breast specialist charges £225 a year. People say, ‘That’s fine for you, you’ve got money’. But you could probably spend that money in a year on takeaways, pubs or cigarettes.”
The TV star pays for regular appointments with a breast specialist, in addition to her NHS mammogram every two years.
