What is secondary cancer? Linda Nolan dies aged 65

Singer Linda Nolan has died aged 65 after a 20-year journey with breast cancer, her agent Dermot McNamara has confirmed.

In a statement, he said that "she passed peacefully, with her loving siblings by her bedside, ensuring she was embraced with love and comfort during her final moments. Linda's legacy extends beyond her incredible achievements in music and entertainment.

"She was a beacon of hope and resilience, sharing her journey to raise awareness and inspire others. Rest in peace, Linda. You will be deeply missed, but never forgotten."

A member of the pop group The Nolans with her sisters Coleen, Bernie, Maureen, Denise and Anne, Linda was initially diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, before she was given the all-clear in 2011. In 2017, she was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer, which then spread to other areas of her body by 2020, and later, in 2023, to her brain.

What is secondary breast cancer?

Secondary breast cancer is when cancer cells spread from the breast to other areas of the body. Cancer cells can spread through the lymphatic system or the blood, and may begin to form other tumours. There are no specific risk factors for secondary breast cancer.

Also referred to as advanced breast cancer and metastatic breast cancer, secondary breast cancer most commonly spreads to the bones, liver, brain, skin and lungs, but can affect other parts of the body as well. In rare instances, breast cancer can spread to the bone marrow, body tissue and spinal cord.

Regional recurrence is where the cancer returns in the lymph nodes in the armpit, whereas local recurrence is where cancer comes back in the treated breast or the scar.

What are the symptoms of metastatic breast cancer?

Indications like a lack of appetite, fatigue or feeling unwell can be symptoms of secondary breast cancer, along with pain in the bones, depending on which area the cancer has spread to.

If it has reached the lungs, individuals may experience breathlessness also.

How common is secondary breast cancer?

According to UK-based charity Make 2nds Count, nearly 30% of women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer will see the disease spread to other organs. It also states that some may have secondary breast cancer on first diagnosis.

Is there treatment for metastatic breast cancer?

Secondary breast cancer is classed as a stage 4 cancer, meaning it has spread to other parts of the body.

Treatment plans vary from patient to patient and your doctor will determine the best and most effective course of treatment for you, usually after conferring with a multidisciplinary team (MDT) of specialists.

Generally speaking, treatments for secondary breast cancer include:

• Hormonal therapy

• Chemotherapy

• Surgery

• Steroids

• Radiotherapy

• Targeted therapy

• Bone strengthening medication

• Immunotherapy

How is metastatic breast cancer diagnosed?

There are various ways health experts can screen for secondary breast cancer, including:

• Blood tests

• Chest x-rays

• Bone x-rays

• Liver ultrasounds

• CT scans

• PET-CT scans

• MRI scans

• Biopsies

What is the average survival rate of those diagnosed?

As per the Cancer Center, the five-year relative survival rate for regional secondary breast cancer is 86%, and 29% for those with distant metastatic breast cancer.

Read more about breast cancer

• The different types of breast cancers as 'Dear Deidre' Sanders shares update (Yahoo Life UK, 3-min read)

• I saw breast cancer as a woman’s illness and was too embarrassed to tell people I had it (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read)

• ‘The symptom that led to my breast cancer diagnosis’ (Yahoo Life UK, 5-min read)