After revealing a devastating health update, Linda Nolan speaks candidly to Woman about her hopes and fears for the future
WORDS: ANNA MATHESON. MAIN PHOTO: DAN CHARITY. STYLING: ARABELLA BOYCE. HAIR & MAKEUP: HOLLIE FITZMARTIN. OTHER PHOTOS: BACKGRID, ALAMY, QUEST RED
She is one of the friendliest celebrities in showbusiness, so it’s always lovely to catch up with Linda Nolan. But sadly, this time it’s not a light-hearted chat, as Woman talks to the 64-year-old about the sad news that her ‘incurable’ cancer has now spread to her brain.
Linda’s diagnosis came last month when she was referred for brain scans after she had two falls at home. The singer was first diagnosed with stage three breast cancer in 2006, but was given the all-clear the following year.
Cancer has blighted the Nolan family over the years: Linda’s husband Brian passed away from skin cancer in 2007; her younger sister Bernie lost her fight with breast cancer in 2013; older sister Anne has also battled breast cancer twice since 2000; while Linda herself suffered another shock in 2017 when she was diagnosed with incurable secondary cancer in her hip, which then spread to her liver in 2020.
When Woman asks if Linda feels as though this is her biggest battle yet, she replies sincerely, admitting, ‘It really does. But when I wake up, I don’t think, “This is another day closer to dying”, I think, “This is another day I’ve got to have a nice time.” At the moment I’m still able to make lovely memories. I haven’t asked how long I have left to live. I don’t think that knowledge benefits anybody. I would just start panicking.’
Here, the star chats candidly about her fear of dying, her treatment and hopes for the future.
Hi Linda, we’re so sorry to hear about your latest diagnosis. How are you feeling?
Honestly, I’m still in shock. It feels surreal.
When Bernie’s cancer went to her brain, all they could do was radiotherapy for her and sadly it didn’t work. So I immediately thought of that. It’s always a shock as you feel you’re getting closer to dying.
It must have been so incredibly hard to tell your family.
Maureen was with me. We had a little cry together and then we sent out a general text to the family telling them as I couldn’t talk about it. It’s hard for other people to know what to say. I just want it to be OK for them.
How is the treatment going?
I’ve had radiotherapy and soon I’ll start a new drug for brain cancer – which is being hailed as a wonder drug – alongside another chemo drug.
When I was on chemo in 2020 I stayed on it until I couldn’t handle it. So i
