Linda and Anne Nolan reveal they have cancer and were diagnosed four days apart

'They've beaten it before - they can beat it again'
The sisters as they embark on their series The Nolans Go Cruising
Quest Red

Linda and Anne Nolan have revealed that they are both battling cancer after being diagnosed days apart.

The sisters, who made up part of Irish pop group The Nolans, confirmed they had been diagnosed with the disease that killed their sister Bernie in 2013, aged 52.

Linda, 61, is suffering from liver cancer, while Anne, 69, has stage three breast cancer.

The younger of the two previously battled breast cancer in 2006, cellulitis and lymphoedema in her arm in 2007 and secondary cancer on her pelvis in 2017.

Linda Nolan has battled cancer before
SplashNews.com

They were both diagnosed within days of each other, shortly after finishing filming for their TV series The Nolans Go Cruising.

The pair underwent a round of chemotherapy together at Blackpool's Victoria Hospital last month, and have now both lost their hair.

Sister Coleen Nolan, a presenter on Loose Women, tweeted her support after the news became public late on Sunday.

"They've beaten it before - they can beat it again," she said.

"Please keep them in your thoughts and well wishes."

A spokesman for the sisters told the Mirror: "It is with a heavy heart to confirm that Linda and Anne are battling cancer together.

"Linda’s incurable secondary cancer has spread from her hip to her liver, with Anne having a grade three breast tumour.

"They were both diagnosed following filming of their Quest Red show The Nolans Go Cruising and are now undergoing chemotherapy together.

"Linda and Anne would like to thank the public for all the love and support they’ve received.”

The younger sister, a former Celebrity Big Brother contestant, told the Sun that losing her hair was a painful reminder of her late sibling.

"I look in the mirror now and I see Bernie, because I think we're so alike anyway and it just brings back all of her trauma and how sick she was," Linda said.

Irish girl group The Nolan Sisters (top left, clockwise) Denise, 24, Maureen, 21, Linda, 17, Anne, 24 and Bernadette 'Bernie', 16
PA

She and Anne, the eldest, said they were determined to fight the disease.

The 69-year-old grandmother told the paper: “I don’t want to die. I love my life so much.

"I love my daughters, my grandchildren, my friends, all my family.

“I want to live for as long as I possibly can."

Maureen Nolan, 66, has now moved in with her elder sister to look after her.

Meanwhile, Denise Nolan, 69, is caring for Linda at her home.

The sisters are both having six rounds of chemotherapy in total, with Anne finishing just ahead of Linda on September 11.