Bernie Nolan - Bernie Nolan Fighting Cancer Again

The Nolans star was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010 and was later told she had beaten the disease after undergoing a mastectomy, chemotherapy, and breast reconstruction surgery.

However, the 52 year old has now confirmed her illness has returned and doctors now fear the cancer could be incurable as it has spread to her brain, lungs, liver and bones.

Nolan is refusing to let the disease beat her and she is hoping the cancer can be controlled with medication.

She tells British newspaper the Sunday Mirror, "It's not curable. But the doctors have ­promised me the cancer is treatable, it's ­containable.

"I'm on medication which is ­controlling it, and people have lived for 12 years on these drugs. Who knows what new treatments are around the corner?

"I refuse to sit around like I've got a death sentence hanging over my head. I'm going to fight this forever. It can get stuffed."

Nolan's diagnosis came in April (12), but she kept it secret and continued to work - even touring with the cast of musical Chicago.

She adds, "It is harder this time. Because that word has come into it... incurable. That was never there before. But there's another word I have too, a word I like. Treatable. It could have been worse. It could have just been ­incurable.

"Sometimes when I think about it, I get that feeling of panic in my stomach. Then the Bernie effect kicks in and I think, 'Oh, b**ger off, get on with it'."