When Linda Nolan was diagnosed with breast cancer 15 years ago, she never imagined the unbelievable effect it would have on her life, or that she’d be sitting with us now, discussing how the disease has spread to her liver.
The 61-year-old found fame in the 1970s and 80s with her sisters – Anne, Denise, Maureen, Bernie and Coleen – in the chart-topping group The Nolans, who had hits such as I’m In The Mood For Dancing and Attention To Me.
But life since has been blighted by cancer, with Linda and her family being dealt several devastating blows at the hands of the illness. After 26 years of marriage, in 2007 the disease took the life of her husband Brian Hudson, and six years later that of Bernie. All the while, Linda supports Anne who has been fighting the disease since 2000.
But as soon as we call Linda for a catch-up on how she’s been doing, her strength comes shining through. Although the Celebrity Big Brother star is delighted about Anne recently being given the all-clear, Linda received the news that her cancer had spread. It was a huge blow but, although terrified, Linda has put her all into a new project to distract herself from the pain – she’s launched her own gin, named Hudson’s Gin, after her husband.
[https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/21047/606662/602df8ce4a923/1613624812111.jpg]
Here, Linda reveals the inspiration behind her venture, tells us how she remains upbeat during the dark days and says cancer has made her closer than ever to her sisters…
Hi Linda! How have you been feeling lately?
I’m trying to be positive. But there are days where I close my door and slide down my wall, thinking, “What am I going to do?!”I am scared, I won’t lie. I am so scared of dying. We’re all Catholics and, as a kid, I’d go to Mass, where you learn about heaven and God. You’re told when you get to heaven you’ll see everyone you love. As an adult, I really hope it is like that! I so hope to see Brian and Bernie. I look at my great-nieces and nephews and think how much I’d love to see them growing up. That’s hard. I want to be here when they have fabulous moments at school and their prom. Then other times I think to myself, “Well, you will be here, so shut up!” I am really positive, but there are some days when I just give in.
That’s understandable. You must miss Brian at times like these…
Oh my God, yeah. I miss Brian every day of my life. There’s times in the middle of the night when, although everyone is there for you, you’re on your own. When Brian was alive through my first lot of chemo in 2006, I’d sit on my bed feeling rubbish but he’d just rub my back and be there. I miss him at times like that. But he made me the woman I am and he made me strong. He had skin cancer, bless him. I took a lot of inspiration from him, like the way he just got on with it. I was lucky to have had him. A lot of people don’t have the love of their life, ever, but I did for 26 years.
[https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/21047/606662/602df8ce4a923/1613624812169.jpg]
Are you going into hospital to have chemotherapy?
I’m having chemotherapy tablets. I take 10 in a day, so five in the morning and five at night. I can do all that from home, which is great. But I do go in every three weeks to have my bloods done and see my consultant. I was lucky because Anne was having chemotherapy at the same time as me. At least there was a friendly fa...
The 61-year-old found fame in the 1970s and 80s with her sisters – Anne, Denise, Maureen, Bernie and Coleen – in the chart-topping group The Nolans, who had hits such as I’m In The Mood For Dancing and Attention To Me.
But life since has been blighted by cancer, with Linda and her family being dealt several devastating blows at the hands of the illness. After 26 years of marriage, in 2007 the disease took the life of her husband Brian Hudson, and six years later that of Bernie. All the while, Linda supports Anne who has been fighting the disease since 2000.
But as soon as we call Linda for a catch-up on how she’s been doing, her strength comes shining through. Although the Celebrity Big Brother star is delighted about Anne recently being given the all-clear, Linda received the news that her cancer had spread. It was a huge blow but, although terrified, Linda has put her all into a new project to distract herself from the pain – she’s launched her own gin, named Hudson’s Gin, after her husband.
[https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/21047/606662/602df8ce4a923/1613624812111.jpg]
Here, Linda reveals the inspiration behind her venture, tells us how she remains upbeat during the dark days and says cancer has made her closer than ever to her sisters…
Hi Linda! How have you been feeling lately?
I’m trying to be positive. But there are days where I close my door and slide down my wall, thinking, “What am I going to do?!”I am scared, I won’t lie. I am so scared of dying. We’re all Catholics and, as a kid, I’d go to Mass, where you learn about heaven and God. You’re told when you get to heaven you’ll see everyone you love. As an adult, I really hope it is like that! I so hope to see Brian and Bernie. I look at my great-nieces and nephews and think how much I’d love to see them growing up. That’s hard. I want to be here when they have fabulous moments at school and their prom. Then other times I think to myself, “Well, you will be here, so shut up!” I am really positive, but there are some days when I just give in.
That’s understandable. You must miss Brian at times like these…
Oh my God, yeah. I miss Brian every day of my life. There’s times in the middle of the night when, although everyone is there for you, you’re on your own. When Brian was alive through my first lot of chemo in 2006, I’d sit on my bed feeling rubbish but he’d just rub my back and be there. I miss him at times like that. But he made me the woman I am and he made me strong. He had skin cancer, bless him. I took a lot of inspiration from him, like the way he just got on with it. I was lucky to have had him. A lot of people don’t have the love of their life, ever, but I did for 26 years.
[https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/21047/606662/602df8ce4a923/1613624812169.jpg]
Are you going into hospital to have chemotherapy?
I’m having chemotherapy tablets. I take 10 in a day, so five in the morning and five at night. I can do all that from home, which is great. But I do go in every three weeks to have my bloods done and see my consultant. I was lucky because Anne was having chemotherapy at the same time as me. At least there was a friendly fa...
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New UK (Digital) - 1 Issue, February 22, 2021