Coleen Nolan has admitted that she feels anxious over the prospect of facing cancer due to her family’s history with the disease, but tries not to ‘overthink it’ because she could ‘scare herself to death’.
The Loose Women star found fame as a member of The Nolans, a musical group made up of sisters Coleen, Anne Nolan, Linda Nolan, Denise Nolan and Bernie Nolan, and their mother Maureen Nolan.
Bernie died in 2013 at the age of 52 after being diagnosed with breast cancer, which metastasised to her brain, lungs, liver and bones after it returned.
Linda was originally diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006 and received the all-clear five years later. However, doctors discovered a form of incurable secondary breast cancer on her pelvis, and in March this year she revealed it had metastasized to her brain.
Anne recovered from cancer for a second time in the last few years, while in July, Coleen shared that she had been diagnosed with a form of skin cancer called basal-cell carcinoma.
In a new interview, Coleen, 58, said that it was ‘laughable’ how much her family had been impacted by breast cancer.
How to check for signs of breast cancer
CoppaFeel! offers these simple steps on how to check your own chest for signs of cancer.
Look
- Look at your boobs, pecs or chest.
- Look at the area from your armpit, across and beneath your boobs, pecs or chest, and up to your collarbone.
Be aware of any changes in size, outline or shape and changes in skin such as puckering or dimpling.
Feel
- Feel each of your boobs, pecs or chest.
- Feel the area from your armpit, across and beneath your boobs, pecs or chest, and up to your collarbone.
Be aware of any changes in skin such as puckering or dimpling, or any lumps, bumps or skin thickening which are different from the opposite side.
Notice your nipples
- Look at each of your nipples.
Be aware of any nipple discharge that’s not milky, any bleeding from the nipple, any rash or crusting on or around your nipple area that doesn’t heal easily and any change in the position of your nipple
‘We get through it all with humour, because what has happened to us is a joke,’ she told The Mirror.
‘I try not to overthink it because I could scare myself to death. Worrying isn’t going to help me and stress, if anything, could lead to other problems. I try not to let it consume my life,’ she continued.
Coleen added that because she is so ‘aware of it’, she makes sure to check herself ‘as much as she can’ and is ‘not afraid of seeking help’.
The TV star has a breast examination every year and a mammogram every two years due to her family’s history with breast cancer, she explained.
She shared that she looked into having elective surgery because she ‘didn’t want to live waiting for the phone call’.
‘But Linda talked me out of it, funnily enough. She said, “I don’t want you to do it because it’s a really big operation,’ she recalled.
Macmillan cancer support
If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with cancer, Macmillan can offer support and information.
You can contact their helpline on 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week from 8am to 8pm), use their webchat service, or visit their site for more information.
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