British bestselling author Sophie Kinsella – whose real name is Madeleine Sophie Wickham – has been diagnosed with Glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer.
The 54-year-old author, who has published over thirty works, is widely recognised for her best-selling book series, ‘Shopaholic, which was adapted into a movie, ‘Confessions of a Shopaholic’ in 2009. Kinsella’s most recent book, The Burnout, was released in October 2023.
View this post on Instagram
On Monday, the author took to social media to share her unfortunate diagnosis of an aggressive form of brain cancer. She wrote:
“I’ve wanted for a long time to share with you a health update and I’ve been waiting for the strength to do so. At the end of 2022 I was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a form of aggressive brain cancer. I did not share this before because I wanted to make sure that my children were able to hear and process the news in privacy and adapt to our ‘new normal.’”
Glioblastoma is the most common of all malignant brain tumours. According to the American Brain Tumor Association, an average of more than 12,000 glioblastoma cases are diagnosed each year in the United States. The five-year relative survival rates for adults aged 40 and above with glioblastoma is 5.6 percent.
“The American Association of Neurological Surgeons describes glioblastoma as ‘a devastating brain cancer that can result in death in six months or less, if untreated,'” quotes the Washington Post.
Wickham goes on to state that she is undergoing treatment at University College Hospital in London. She has had a successful brain surgery, and subsequent radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which is ongoing.
‘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!”
Wickham says that the support from her readers, especially with her latest release in October last year, has been a source of light in this challenging time.
“I am so grateful to my family and close friends who have been an incredible support to me, and to the wonderful doctors and nurses who have treated me. I am also so grateful to my readers for your constant support. The wonderful response to The Burnout has really buoyed me up, during a difficult time.”
“To everyone who is suffering from cancer in any form I send love and best wishes, as well as to those who support them. 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,” says Kinsella, ending:
“I’ll be in touch soon, and in the meanwhile, greetings from sunny London.”
ALSO SEE:
Bridget Jones returns to screens for a fourth film in her fifties
Feature Image: Instagram / @sophiekinsellawriter
