Linda Nolan has opened up on her battle with incurable cancer after losing all of her hair once again.
The Irish singer, 64, spoke with the Mirror about her experience, where she spoke of losing her hair for the fourth time amid treatment for the devastating disease.
Explaining her approach to the effects of chemo, the star told the publication: "My friend who is a hairdresser came round and just shaved it." She also agreed to be photographed with her new look in a bid to inspire others experiencing the same.
She added: "Then I said ‘Get me a cap, we’re going out for a drink’." But it wasn't an easy decision to make and she still found herself feeling emotional after the loss.
"When we got back I was emotional. My sister Maureen said ‘Are you alright?’ and I couldn’t speak, then I said ‘Not really’. She came and sat beside me and put her arm around me," she continued. "I just feel, because I’ve been having steroid treatment as well and my face is swollen, I look like Mrs Potato Head."
The star, who found fame as one fifth of The Nolans – one of the most successful girl groups of all time, selling over 30 million records worldwide with hits such as Gotta Pull Myself Together, Attention To Me and their 1980 hit I’m In The Mood For Dancing – first learned she had cancer in 2006. Her devastating diagnosis came six years after her older sister Anne’s and four years before sister Bernie’s.
Bernie tragically died from the disease in 2013, aged just 52, while Anne, 72, has since received the all-clear. Linda is still continuing her cancer journey and takes each day in her stride.
Of her recent hair loss, the popular singer admitted she is "devastated" and explained she feels as though she has been internally screaming about not wanting to lose her hair again. She does have "two lovely wigs" – in her trademark blonde – which she will wear, but she "hates" them.
The wigs can be a faff, as they require constant checking to ensure they're straight and sitting correctly, with Linda conceding a baseball cap is "easier".
She has been consistently open and honest about her experience with the incurable disease and, in March, appeared on Good Morning Britain where she confirmed it had spread to her brain.
In a brave statement, she said: "I've always been open about my treatments and what's happening in my life."
Linda continued: "I just want to tell you, from me, that unfortunately and sadly for me my cancer has now spread to my brain, which I only found out on Monday.
"That's obviously very frightening because there isn't much help for brain cancer at the moment apart from radiotherapy, which I am going to be having. But there is a new drug, which has been in use for a year, for brain cancer, and we're going to try me on that as a chemo drug with some other treatments."
She added: "I've always been honest and I just wanted people to know that's the situation and I'm not giving up, I'm positive. I'm going to lose my hair, again, for the fourth time. My sister said: 'At least you've got some nice wigs now.'
"I've moved back in with my sister to live, I was having falls, the cancer in my brain was affecting my balance and I had three quite nasty falls. So, as usual, my amazing family – I'm back living with my sister Denise and her partner. Maureen has been looking after me for the past few weeks."
Source: Read Full Article
