'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella diagnosed with 'aggressive' brain cancer
Sophie Kinsella has revealed she is battling "aggressive" brain cancer.
The "Shopaholic" author, 54, shared in a statement on social media Wednesday that she was diagnosed with glioblastoma at the end of 2022. She said she has been receiving treatment at London's University College Hospital, including "successful" surgery and ongoing radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
"At the moment all is stable and I am feeling generally very well, though I get very tired and my memory is even worse than it was before!" she wrote.
In her statement, Kinsella said she has wanted to share her health news "for a long time" but was "waiting for the strength" to do so. She also said she wanted to make sure her children "were able to hear and process the news in privacy and adapt to our 'new normal,'" echoing statements made by Princess Kate when she announced her cancer diagnosis in March.
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What is glioblastoma?
According to the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, glioblastoma is a "fast-growing and aggressive" brain tumor, and the survival rate is "poor with approximately 40% survival in the first year post diagnosis and 17% in the second year." Possible symptoms include headaches, vomiting and loss of appetite.
Kinsella, whose real name is Madeleine Wickham, expressed gratitude for the support of her family and friends, as well as of readers, noting that the response to her latest novel "The Burnout" has "buoyed me up" during a difficult time.
Kinsella is best known for writing the "Shopaholic" book series, the first of which was released in 2000 and followed a shopaholic financial journalist. A 2009 movie based on the books, "Confessions of a Shopaholic," starred Isla Fisher.
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"To everyone who is suffering from cancer in any form I send love and best wishes, as well as to those who support them," she wrote. "It can feel very lonely and scary to have a tough diagnosis, and the support and care of those around you means more than words can say."
Earlier on Wednesday, People magazine published an interview with actress Olivia Munn, who opened up about her own battle with breast cancer.
"You realize cancer doesn't care who you are; it doesn't care if you have a baby or if you don't have time," Munn said. "It comes at you, and you have no choice but to face it head-on."