Coleen Nolan turns down mastectomy on sister's advice - despite family history

19 December 2023 , 12:38

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Coleen Nolan turned down mastectomy after sister's advice - despite family history (Image: ITV)

Coleen Nolan has opened up about her decision to not have a double mastectomy after taking advice from sister Linda, who is being treated for cancer.

The Loose Women star's family has been deeply affected by cancer, with three of the Nolan sisters diagnosed with the condition. Bernie died of breast cancer in 2013, aged just 52, while Linda Nolan underwent a mastectomy and 18 rounds of chemotherapy when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005. In 2017 Linda was diagnosed with an incurable form of secondary cancer in her hip, which spread to her liver in 2020.

Earlier this year, Linda was told her cancer had spread to her brain. While their sister Anne has also had treatment for cancer twice and is thankfully in remission.

Despite her devastating family history, Coleen, 54, says her sister Linda advised her against have a mastectomy operation. Coleen says she lives with the possibility that she may be diagnosed at some point and considered having the surgery to give her "one less worry".

Coleen was considering a preventative double mastectomy (coleen_nolan/Instagram)

Linda and Coleen Nolan have seen their fair share of heartache with their family history of cancer (Dave Benett/Getty Images for Hea)

But after speaking to her breast specialist, she was told it was a huge decision, and to speak to a therapist about it.

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Speaking on the Mother and Daughter Breast of Friends podcast, Coleen said: "But it wasn't a big decision for me because if I have a faulty gene I want it gone." She joked that she would get "decent boobs" after the procedure. But as she was making enquiries, her sister Linda voiced her concerns about the operation, telling her it "does hurt".

Coleen said: "She went on and on and she said, 'You might do that and then get cancer somewhere else, and how annoyed would you be.' But I thought at least it was one cancer I wouldn't have to worry about."

Given her family history, Coleen says she makes sure to see a breast specialist once a year, and she examines herself to check for anything abnormal. She also gets two yearly mammograms to "keep on top of it," but she hates going to the doctors. The Nolan Sisters star said her family have been hit by cancer since 2000, and the illness "just keeps battering" them.

Bernie Nolan, second to left, pictured with Coleen, Linda and Maureen, died at the age of 52 (WireImage)

Coleen's sister Linda, 64, has been going through treatment after secondary breast cancer spread to her brain. But she was recently able to share some "amazing" news about a health-related "early Christmas present". In March, she revealed that the disease had spread to her brain, leading her to lose her hair for the fourth time in her life. She was also left unable to balance properly, meaning she needs to use a wheelchair sometimes.

But amid her treatment plan, she shared some amazing news on Good Morning Britain earlier this month. The Mirror columnist revealed what happened during a recent hospital appointment, saying: "It's amazing… When we went in, I knew straight away that it was good news by the look on my consultant's face.

"He said that the scans were good – the MRI and the CT scan – and that there is shrinkage with the tumours. I wanted to put my arms around him and kiss him but I thought they might throw me out."

When asked if the news was like an early Christmas present, she said: "Absolutely."

Amelia Ward