Just weeks after the devastating loss of his sister, Linda Nolan, Brian Nolan has revealed that he, too, has been diagnosed with cancer.
Linda, a beloved TV personality, passed away on January 15, 2025, at the age of 65 after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer.
She also suffered from double pneumonia in her final days.
Tragically, just three days after her passing, Brian, 69, was diagnosed with stage two prostate cancer.
A Family No Stranger to Cancer
The Nolan family has faced more than their fair share of heartbreak.
Brian’s sister, Bernie, passed away from breast cancer in 2013.
Anne, now 74, was diagnosed with the same disease in 2000, while Coleen, 60, revealed her skin cancer diagnosis in 2023.
In an emotional interview with The Mirror, Brian expressed his frustration, saying, “I just want cancer to leave us alone.”
He described the moment he received his diagnosis as feeling like “being hit by a train.”
Initially, fear took over. “You start plunging into the abyss of: ‘I’m going to die,'” he admitted.
However, his doctor reassured him, saying, “We’re going to treat this, and we’re going to cure this.”
Clinging to that hope, Brian is now preparing for surgery to remove his prostate gland.
Keeping It a Secret Amidst Grief
Brian made the difficult decision to keep his health concerns to himself while his family was already reeling from Linda’s decline. “I thought I was doing the right thing, and I still do.
We were already knee-deep in tears and knee-deep in grief,” he shared.
Despite his own health struggles, Brian was by Linda’s bedside for 28 hours in her final days.
When he eventually confided in his sister, Coleen, she admitted she was in complete shock.
“I went completely numb, and I just wanted to scream,” she said.
However, she also expressed her pride in Brian’s resilience and vowed that their family would stand by him through it all.
The Journey to Diagnosis
Brian first suspected something was wrong in November when he noticed he was using the toilet more frequently.
His doctor conducted a PSA blood test, a common screening tool for prostate cancer.
He later underwent an MRI scan just after Christmas, followed by a biopsy in the new year.
His official diagnosis came shortly after Linda’s passing.
Now, with the support of his wife, Ann, Brian has chosen to speak out in hopes of raising awareness about prostate cancer and encouraging men to get checked.
Understanding Prostate Cancer
How Common Is It?
Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting men.
In the UK, over 52,300 men are diagnosed each year—that’s more than 140 new cases every single day. In the US, the disease claims 26,000 lives annually.
Despite its prevalence, prostate cancer research receives significantly less funding than breast cancer, leaving treatments lagging behind by at least a decade.
How Does It Develop?
This type of cancer often develops slowly, meaning many men may not realize they have it for years.
According to the NHS, if caught early, it can often be treated successfully.
However, if it spreads, treatment shifts to symptom management rather than a cure.
The Challenge of Diagnosis
Diagnosing prostate cancer isn’t always straightforward. Unlike breast cancer, there is no national screening program due to the inaccuracy of existing tests.
The PSA blood test, which helps assess a man’s risk, is not always reliable, and biopsies don’t always give clear results.
Because of the potential side effects of treatment, including erectile dysfunction, many men delay getting tested.