Author Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis

Author Sophie Kinsella has revealed she has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of brain cancer.

The 54-year-old, whose real name is Madeleine Sophie Wickham, is best known for writing the Shopaholic book series.

In a statement posted on Facebook, the novelist said she had been receiving "excellent care".

She added she had been receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which is still ongoing.

She told her followers: "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.'

"I have been under the care of the excellent team at University College Hospital in London and have had successful surgery and subsequent radiotherapy and chemotherapy, which is still ongoing."

Kinsella added she is stable and "generally very well", but said she often feels very tired and joked her "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."

She concluded by "sending love and best wishes" to everyone who is suffering from cancer.

"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," she said.

Kinsella's most recent book, The Burnout, was published in October 2023.

Her other novels include Can You Keep A Secret? and The Undomestic Goddess.

The first two novels in her eight-book Shopaholic series were adapted for the 2009 film Confessions of a Shopaholic starring Isla Fisher.

Fisher commented on Kinsella's Instagram post, writing: "Sending you so much love and healing energy."

Kinsella has four sons and a daughter with husband Henry Wickham.

Kinsella's novels have sold more than 45 million copies in more than 60 countries, and have been translated into more than 40 languages.