Bestselling British author Sophie Kinsella announced Wednesday that she has glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer.

The 54-year-old author, real name Madeleine Sophie Wickham, wrote in a statement posted to her social media accounts that she was diagnosed in 2022. She said she had surgery and was undergoing radiation and chemotherapy.

“I have wanted to share with you something about my health for a long time and have been waiting for the strength to do so,” she wrote.

“In late 2022, I was diagnosed with glioblastoma, a form of aggressive brain cancer. I haven’t shared this before because I wanted to make sure my children could hear and process the news in privacy and adapt to our ‘new normal.'”

She said everything was stable “for now.”

Glioblastoma is the most aggressive malignant primary brain tumoraccording to the Brain Tumor Foundation of Canada.

It has “the lowest survival rate at any time after diagnosis, compared to other tumors”, according to a report from the Brain Tumor Registry of Canada.

The Canadian Press previously reported that about 1,000 Canadians are diagnosed with glioblastoma each year and only about 4% of those patients survive five years or more. The average survival time after diagnosis is approximately 18 months.

“It can feel very lonely and scary to have a difficult diagnosis, and the support and care of those around you means more than words can say,” Kinsella wrote.

A surge of support

Kinsella has sold more than 45 million copies of his books in more than 60 countries. They have been translated into more than 40 languages. Her most recent book, Burnoutwas released last year.

But Kinsella is best known for her nine books Shopaholic series. The first two in the series were adapted into the 2009 film Confessions of a Shopaholic featuring Fisher Island.

After revealing her diagnosis, fans and friends flooded Kinsella’s social media with messages of support.

“Sending you so much love and healing energy,” Fisher commented. Kinsella’s Instagram post Wednesday.

Author Jojo Moyes also commented, writing, “I love you,” and publisher Penguin Books wrote, “Sending so much love and strength, Sophie.”