The festive period holds an extra special place in Linda Nolan’s heart this year, as her declining health led her to believe she might not “make Christmas”.
“I can’t wait [for Christmas]. Not to be morbid, but I didn’t think I’d make Christmas, so it’s a real bonus,” the columnist and member of former Anglo-Irish girl group The Nolans told Woman magazine, per The Mirror.
“We love Christmas as a family and we’re all going to gather at [sister] Denise’s. It will be great.
“We all have such a good time when we get together so I can’t wait. I especially love seeing all the little ones and how excited they get.”
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The singer is very close with her sisters, who have all been members of the popular family band.
Linda and many of her sisters have navigated cancer diagnoses over the years, with her sister Bernie passing away with breast cancer in 2013.
Linda herself has been living with cancer since being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005. She was then diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2017, with the cancer reportedly spreading to her hip, her liver and later in brain.
She has been undergoing regular treatment and documenting her experiences in her column with The Mirror.
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Despite her health challenges, Linda is looking forward to spending Christmas with her family and hopes to be able to do the same next year.
”My Christmas wish is that I’ll be here to see everybody next year as well,” Linda said.
Speaking with Woman magazine, Nolan also provided an update on her health journey.
“I’m having chemo once every three weeks. I have my bloods taken after each time and if they’re OK, I have the next round,” she said.
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“You have to be careful with chemo. I’ve lost my hair again – I’m bald for the fifth time and it still gets to me each time.
“I’m distraught when it goes. Pain-wise I get a cramp in my leg, which really hurts, but apart from that there’s no pain which is good.”
While her cancer journey has its challenges, Linda is determined to face them with positivity as much as she can.
“I’ve been fighting this since 2005 and I always put up a fight – you can’t not. When I was 60 I had a big party and I said, ‘Well, hopefully I’ll be here next year.’ And here I am, I’ll be 66 in February. I think if you lose hope, you lose everything,” she said.
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