Bernie Nolan announces cancer battle

Tags: bernie nolan, cancer, mum's the word, popstar to opera star, the bill, the nolans.

Bernie Nolan has confirmed that she faces losing a breast and undergoing hair-stripping chemotherapy as she battles to survive cancer that has already spread into her lymph nodes.

The 'Popstar to Opera Star' runner-up only learned the devastating diagnosis earlier on this week, but she insists: "I will see my daughter grow up and I'll fight it with everything I have."

Bernie will learn on Wednesday whether she must have the mastectomy to remove her left breast before or after a long course of chemo, which has forced her to pull out of a six-month work commitment because she will be too sick to go on tour with the 'Mum's The Word' play.

She first discovered a problem while taping the ITV opera reality show earlier this year, but mistakenly assumed she had a cyst similar to one she'd had in 2006. She says: "I'm fighting this. I'm going to kick its ass. Take one breast, take them both, I don't care. I'm strong and I am not going to let this defeat me. I'm not going to sit back and let that happen." Good luck Bernie, and I hope her being so open and honest encourages women to check themselves!!!

Image: PacificCoastNews.com