Confessions of a Shopaholic author Sophie Kinsella issues message to fans after revealing diagnosis

Confessions of a Shopaholic author Sophie Kinsella has taken to X (formerly Twitter ) to send a heartfelt message of thanks to fans after she revealed she has been diagnosed with brain cancer. The star posted a video on X today directly addressed to her fans.

In the clip, the 54-year-old says: "It has been a surreal couple of days since I made my brain cancer announcement. It's still kind of weird saying that out loud, saying brain cancer.

"I'm still not used to it. But do you know what's made me feel so much better? It's this amazing wave of loved that I have felt from all you lovely readers.

"It has just blown me away, I don't know what I expected but I really was quite overwhelmed by how generous and warm and loving you have all been to me and my family."

She continued: "I know that some of you are going through a similar disease or your loved one is, or you're just going through some hardship at the moment. And I share in that. We will get through it together."

On April 17 the novelist said she has been receiving chemotherapy and radiotherapy, writing on social media: “To my dear readers and followers. 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.’

“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. 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. 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.” Kinsella’s latest book The Burnout was released in October 2023. Her other hit books include Can You Keep A Secret? and The Undomestic Goddess.

Her novels have sold more than 45 million copies in more than 60 countries, and have been translated into more than 40 languages. The first two novels in her hit eight-book Shopaholic series, The Secret Dreamworld Of A Shopaholic and Shopaholic Abroad, were adapted into the film 2009 Confessions Of A Shopaholic, starring Isla Fisher.