Linda Nolan was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2017, six years after she was declared cancer free
Irish singing legend Linda Nolan passed away at just 65 after battling breast cancer for 20 years. The pop star, a member of the group The Nolans, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and given an all-clear in 2011. But the dreaded disease returned, and she was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer in 2017.
By 2023, the cancer had spread to her brain.
"The family said the hospital couldn't do enough, they were tireless and made it so much more bearable,” read a statement released by her agent.
One in seven women to be diagnosed with breast cancer
According to Cancer Research, UK, breast cancer is among the top cancers in women across the world – accounting for more than 15 per cent of all new cases. In 2022, about 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide and 670,000 died.
Every 14 seconds, somewhere in the world, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer.
What are the signs and symptoms you must not ignore?
Doctors say one of the most recognizable signs of breast cancer is a lump in the breast. However, there are several other signs beyond bumps that could alert you to the deadly disease - from skin and nipple changes to rashes or discharge.
While the condition affects your breasts in different ways some breast cancer symptoms are very distinctive. Others may simply seem like areas of your breast that look very different from any other area. Breast cancer may not cause noticeable symptoms either. But when it does, symptoms may include:
- A change in the size, shape, or contour of your breast
- A mass or lump - which may feel as small as a pea
- A lump or thickening in or near your breast or in your underarms that persists through your menstrual cycle
- A change in the look or feel of your skin on your breast or nipple
- Your skin may look dimpled, puckered, scaly, or inflamed. It may look red, purple, or darker than other parts of your breast.
- A marble-like hardened area under your skin
- A blood-stained or clear fluid discharge from your nipple
What causes breast cancer?
According to experts, breast cancer happens when breast cells mutate and become cancerous divide and multiply to create tumours. However, they are not sure what triggers that change. But lots of research done in this regard shows there are several risk factors that may increase your chances of developing breast cancer, which include:
Age
Being 55 years or older
Family history
If your parents, siblings, children, or other close relatives have breast cancer, you are at risk of developing the disease.
Genetics
Up to 15 per cent of people with breast cancer develop the disease because they have inherited genetic mutations. The most common genetic mutations involve the BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes
Smoking
Tobacco use has been linked to many different types of cancer, including breast cancer
Alcohol
Doctors say drinking alcohol increases breast cancer risk
Obesity
Make sure to lose weight, as obesity and being overweight are big factors in developing cancer
Hormone replacement therapy
Those who have undergone hormone replacement therapy have a higher risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer
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