Linda Nolan never shied away from sharing the tough reality of breast cancer, and women all over the country were inspired by her frank approach to the disease.
The singer, who had secondary breast cancer, hassadly passed away of at the age of 65.
According to Cancer Research UK, around 55,500 women and around 370 men are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK each year. One in seven women in the UK develop the disease during their lifetime, and while it’s more common in older women, it’s still important to keep checking in younger years too, and to know what to look out for.
Linda was first told she had the disease in 2005 and went into remission a year later. But in 2017, she devastatingly announced she had been diagnosed with a secondary cancer in her hip, which spread to her liver in 2020. Three years later, the cancer had spread to her brain.
At the start of 2005, Linda noticed a lump on her left breast and “foolishly left it” before being given the devastating diagnosis, which left her with a ‘small courgette’ sized lump.
Cancer Research UK says the first symptom of breast cancer most people notice is a lump in their breast or some thickening.
Other symptoms to look out for include:
a new lump or thickening in your breast or armpit
a change in size, shape or feel of your breast
skin changes in the breast such as puckering, dimpling, a rash or redness of the skin
fluid leaking from the nipple in a woman who isn’t pregnant or breastfeeding
changes in the position of the nipple
It’s important to note that most breast lumps aren’t cancerous, according to the charity. Lumps that aren’t cancer are called benign lumps, which can become more obvious just before your period.
They can also be cysts, or fibroadenoma – a collection of fibrous glandular tissue which is more common in women younger than 40. But it’s important to get any breast lumps checked by your GP, who will arrange tests to find out what the lump is.
According to NHS, the best way to check your breasts is in the mirror. Its website explains:
You may find it easier to feel your breasts or chest in the shower or lying down.
The Nolan sisters, who rose to fame forming the girl bad ‘The Nolans’ have been plagued by tragedy, with Linda originally being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, and then another of the sisters, Bernie died of cancer in 2013. Linda was then diagnosed a second time, with secondary breast cancer in 2017 and told it was incurable.
The former Celebrity Big Brother previously spoke to The Mirror about her condition and said: “I think anyone in this situation will tell you that you really don’t have a choice. You do have a choice – you could do it all with a terrible, negative outlook and it just makes everything worse. And you’re still going to have to go through the same thing anyway. So like I say, I’m living with cancer, I’m not dying from it.”
If you are worried about breast cancer symptoms, it’s advised to speak to your GP. Alternative information and help can be found here from NHS. You can also call Macmillian for advice on 0808 808 00 00 for helpful advice.
Do you have a story to share? Email niamh.kirk@reachplc.com
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