Singer Linda Nolan has shared the sad news that the cancer she has been living with for six years has now spread to her brain.
The Irish star, who rose to fame with her sisters as part of the girl group The Nolans in 1974, was initially diagnosed with cancer in 2005, when she was told she had stage three breast cancer.
She underwent treatment and received the all-clear the following year, but in 2017 Nolan learned she'd developed a form of incurable secondary cancer in her hip.
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The cancer later spread to her liver, and she's now confirmed it has spread even further as she offered an update on ITV's Good Morning Britain.
Speaking today (27 March), Nolan acknowledged that fans had been reaching out to ask her for updates, so she wanted to speak out to ensure her answer was coming directly from her.
"Unfortunately, sadly for me, my cancer has now spread to my brain," Nolan said.
The singer only learned the news last Monday (20 March), and she admitted it was 'very frightening'.
She continued: "There isn't much help for brain cancer at the moment, apart from radiotherapy, which I'm going to be having."
Nolan explained there is also a 'new drug' that's now being used to try and tackle brain cancer, so medics are going to experiment with that to see whether it has any benefits for her.
"I've always been honest, and I just want people to know, that's the situation," she said. "I'm not giving up. I'm positive. I'm going to lose my hair again for the fourth time."
The brain cancer has caused Nolan to lose her balance, causing her to suffer three 'quite nasty' falls. She initially hoped they'd been caused due to an issue with her spine, so was 'shocked' when she learned the cancer had spread to her brain.
As a result of the issues with her balance, Nolan has moved in with one of her sisters, Denise, while the rest of her 'amazing' family has also rallied around her.
Nolan has also acquired a wheelchair as she prepares for the 'inevitable', adding: "It's a scary trip to be on, this one."
The singer offered advice to anyone who might be going through a similar situation as she admitted that you 'don't take anything in' when visiting doctors for updates, saying: "I would always suggest, take somebody with you for those appointments."
Fans have expressed their support for Nolan as she continues her treatment, with many sending their well-wishes and letting her know that she is 'loved'.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Macmillan’s Cancer Support Line on 0808 808 00 00, 8am–8pm seven days a week
Topics: Health, Celebrity, ITV, Good Morning Britain
Emily Brown