A mum-of-four says she credits the Nolan Sisters with saving her life after getting the all-clear from cancer.
Gail Jones, 56, a ‘lifelong superfan’ of the all-girl group, says she has seen the band live more than 100 times and owns every album of theirs.
But it was a backstage moment a decade ago with the late Bernie Nolan that Gail, who lives in Irlam, credits with having a lasting impact on her life.
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Bernie, who had just been diagnosed with cancer at the time, encouraged Gail to ‘always check your breasts’ – which led to an early diagnosis after finding a lump during a check last year.
Bernie sadly died from breast cancer at the age of 52 in July 2013.
When Gail spotted a lump on her breast in June 2020, she remembered the advice she had been given almost exactly seven years earlier.
"I still remember so clearly when I saw Bernie backstage and she made me promise I’d always check for lumps," Gail explained.
"I kept the promise for a decade but I never expected to find anything - I don't know what would have happened if I hadn't found that lump when I did."
During a mastectomy to remove what doctors suspected was early-stage cancer, a grade-three tumour was found.
A biopsy showed it had also spread to her lymph nodes.
After undergoing more than a year of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments, Gail was finally given the all-clear last month.
Gail, who lives with wife Susan Jones, 57, said she reached out to her hero and Bernie’s sister Linda Nolan, who is currently facing her own battle with cancer, for support during her treatment.
Over the years, she has spent thousands on show tickets to see the Nolan's - and has developed a close relationship with the Nolan family after meeting them backstage countless times.
She explained: "I wasn’t sure whether to message Linda because she has her own cancer battle, but as soon as I did, I knew I’d made the right decision.
"She supported me every day and helped me stay calm in a truly terrifying time.
"It was such a relief to speak to someone who understood what I’m going through - and I can't believe that someone is the same person I've looked up to since I was 16."
Linda, 62, was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006 and given the all-clear soon after, before learning in 2016 the cancer had returned to her hip.
In May 2020, she found out the disease had spread to her liver and had become incurable.
Despite her condition, she still found time to console Gail and provide her with the support to get through her own treatment.
Linda commented: "I love that Gail felt she could approach me when she was diagnosed.
"It's so important to have contact with someone else who's going through the same thing as you.
"I had no idea how far our friendship went back until I got the message from Gail - it's lovely to catch up with old friends and build on that friendship.
"My main message is the same as Bernie's was - always check your breasts!"
Gail says she reached out to her hero and Bernie’s sister Linda Nolan, who is currently facing her own battle with cancer, for support.
Gail, who has four children and eight grandchildren, said Linda has helped her through every step in her terrifying journey and they have now become even closer.
Gail says she now owes her life to the Nolan sisters – because she’d never have spotted the lump without Bernie, and said she would never have had the strength to face treatment without Linda’s support.
Carer Gail, originally from West Bromwich, West Midlands, said: "I couldn't quite believe it when I was told the cancer was gone - because there were times where I didn't think I'd make it at all.
"But even in the darkest of times, Linda was with me every step of the way and she has been a total strength for me because she's going through it herself.
"I still remember so clearly when I saw Bernie backstage and she made me promise I’d always check for lumps.
"I kept the promise for a decade but ever expected to find anything - I don't know what would have happened if I hadn't found that lump when I did.
“Bernie saved my life when she told me to check my breasts for cancer - and now Linda has saved my life by helping me through it."
And now Gail says she can officially say the Nolan sisters - her all-time favourite girl group - saved her life.
"It's been a very tough year and I had some points where I hit rock bottom," she said.
"I thought I was going to die - at one point I even said to my wife I wanted to end it all.
"But Linda has been a strength for me - she texted me every night and reminded me that we're in it together and I need to keep going.
"I remember at a dark point Linda telling me 'Bernie wouldn't want you to give up' and it's true.
"Linda and my wife were the two people who reminded me life is worth living and I will come out the other side of it, when I didn't believe it myself.”
Gail says she has no doubt she and Linda will remain "friends for life" and will forever be grateful for the advice Bernie gave her years back.
She said: "Bernie was the one who told me to check my breasts that night and I kept my promise to her.
"Then Linda was the one who helped me get through the scariest experience in my life even while fighting her own battle.
"Even now I'm cancer-free, I'll still be there for Linda and give her the same support she always gave me.
“Bernie saved my life when she told me to check my breasts for cancer - and now Linda has saved my life by helping me through it."
