Linda Nolan admits fearing 'this is the beginning of the end' in update on cancer battle

Linda Nolan has revealed she has become increasingly concerned about her memory recently, even fearing "this is the beginning of the end" every time she experiences brain fog while battling incurable cancer.

The Nolans singer recalled in her latest column for The Mirror that she was spending time with her sister Denise, when she suddenly forgot the name for green peas.

Linda wrote: "I found myself asking Denise what 'those little green things' were the other day. They weren’t men, thank goodness – we’re not there yet. They were peas.

"Of course, part of me thinks this is the beginning of the end, as I always do when my memory seems to worsen. I worry the next scan won’t bring such good news."

However, Linda eventually realised that she could have been experiencing memory issues due to withdrawal from lowering her dose of pregabalin, which she had been taking to help with neuropathic pain, a side effect of radiotherapy.

She divulged while discussing the medication: "I’ve been on it for years, and I heard something about the downsides of long-term use and thought I better mention it. They suggested lowering my dose."

Explaining how she's been feeling since changing the dose, Linda said: "Now though, I am truly feeling sick (although I’m taking anti-sickness pills for that), as well as feeling my memory drift off more bizarrely than ever, and my balance, too.

"I went to lunch with school friends this week and nearly fell when I stood up from the table. So my guess is that this is withdrawal, and I’m wondering how long to give it.

"It feels sensible to question the pills and reduce doses where I can. Then again, I’ve probably got enough on my plate. What’s a few more pills alongside the peas?"

Linda, 65, was diagnosed with cancer 18 years ago and has been battling incurable secondary breast cancer since 2017.

In 2020, she revealed a third recurrence of cancer in her liver, following treatment in 2006 for breast cancer, and later shared that it had tragically spread to her brain.

The disease has had a devastating impact on her whole family, as Linda's sister Bernie Nolan died of breast cancer in 2013 at the age of 52, while Anne Nolan was also diagnosed with breast cancer for the second time three years ago, and is now cancer-free.

Meanwhile, Coleen Nolan recently opened up about her own skin cancer scare on Loose Women.

For more information or support about cancer, you can contact Macmillan Cancer Support or you can call 020 7940 1760 for advice.