Author Sophie Kinsella has revealed she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer in 2022.
The novelist, 54, is best known for her bestselling Shopaholic book series.
In a post on social media, Kinsella – whose real name is Madeleine Sophie Wickham – said she has been receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy at London‘s University College Hospital, as well as undergoing “successful” surgery.
She said she “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,” she said. “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’.
“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!
“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,” she added.
“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.
“I’ll be in touch soon, and in the meanwhile, greetings from sunny London.”
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Kinsella’s most recent book The Burnout was released in October 2023.
Her other books include Can You Keep A Secret? and The Undomestic Goddess.
The first two novels in her hit eight-book Shopaholic series, The Secret Dreamworld Of A Shopaholic and Shopaholic Abroad, were adapted into the 2009 film Confessions Of A Shopaholic, starring Isla Fisher.
The actress commented on Kinsella’s Instagram post, writing: “Sending you so much love and healing energy.”
Kinsella’s books have sold around 45 million copies in more than 60 countries, and have been translated into more than 40 languages.
She has four sons and a daughter with her husband Henry Wickham.
