Jackie Collins only told her older sister Joan two weeks before she died that she had been battling breast cancer - because she didn't want to be a burden.
The novelist, who has died at the age of 77, was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer more than six years ago but kept her illness almost entirely to herself.
Just a week ago, the writer and her actress sister met up in London where they enjoyed dinner together at The Wolseley in Mayfair.
In a magazine interview which took place earlier this month, Jackie said her sister had been 'very shocked' after being told how serious the illness was.
'She had no idea. But she was great. We were emotional,' Jackie told People.
Jackie explained she hadn't told her famous older sister about her illness sooner because she hadn't wanted to burden her.
'I just felt she didn't need it in her life. She's very positive and very social but I'm not sure how strong she is, so I didn't want to burden her with it,' she told the publication.
Following news of the author's death a spokesman for her family said last night: 'It is with tremendous sadness that we announce the death of our beautiful, dynamic and one of a kind mother, Jackie Collins, who died of breast cancer today.
'She lived a wonderfully full life and was adored by her family, friends and the millions of readers who she has been entertaining for over four decades.
'She was a true inspiration, a trail blazer for women in fiction and a creative force. She will live on through her characters but we already miss her beyond words.'
Her sister Joan, 82, said she was 'completely devastated' to lose her 'best friend'.
Sir Roger Moore, Sandra Bullock and Oprah were among the celebrities who paid tribute yesterday evening.
The best-selling author had spoken to her three daughters Tracy, 54, Tiffany, 48, and Rory, 46, about her illness.
She gave an interview from her home in Beverly Hills five days ago, saying she had no regrets.
Collins said she had lived life like Frank Sinatra, and 'did it my way'.
In the interview with People magazine, she said: 'Looking back, I'm not sorry about anything I did.
'I did it my way, as Frank Sinatra would say. I've written five books since the diagnosis, I've lived my life, I've traveled all over the world, I have not turned down book tours and no one has ever known until now when I feel as though I should come out with it.'
During the emotional interview, Collins - who also has a brother and six grandchildren - said that her family had always been her greatest love.
'I love being with my family,' she said. 'I love sitting out by the pool and watching my [grandkids] play.'
Saying goodbye: Jackie Collins, who died Saturday at 77, with sister Joan, 82, in London a week ago. Both sisters shared this 'last' photo of themselves together via social media
She fought back tears as she added that she wanted her daughters to know that she would 'always be there' for them.
The 'queen of the bonkbuster' stayed busy even in her final days, traveling to London to appear on Loose Women just nine days before her death.
She also remained active on Twitter, where she posted a picture of her with Harold Robbins and Irving Wallace back in the day.
The novelist, who spent most of her life in America and became a US citizen in 1960, wrote 32 books - all of which made it onto the New York Times Bestsellers' List.
During the emotional interview, Collins (pictured) - who also has a brother and six grandchildren - said that her family had always been her greatest love''
Collins (right) gave an interview from her home in Beverly Hills five days ago, saying she had no regrets''
Collins, who was 77, appeared on Loose Women in London just nine days before her death and appeared to be in good health''
Collins was born in Hampstead, London in 1937, and had help starting her career from her father, who was a theatrical agent whose clients included Shirley Bassey, The Beatles and Tom Jones.
She was expelled from a private school for girls at the age of 15 after throwing her school uniform into the Thames.
As a young stage singer she appeared alongside the likes of Des O'Connor and reportedly had an affair with Marlon Brando when she was 15 and he was 29.
She told the Daily Telegraph in 2012 that Brando was fun, but nothing more than a 'schoolgirl crush'. However, she admitted they spent more than one night together.
Married: Actress Jackie Collins on her wedding day, alongside her first husband Wallace Austin on December 13, 1960
HAHHAHAHAA'' MBUTA NANGA 'HILO DOLE MNALIONA EEE''Yani hivi sijui ndiyo alikuwa anawapa vijembe vya dole kina nani ? kumbe taarabu za Ulaya nazo zipo kitambo tena ARUSINI ? #NGACHOKA''
Jackie Collins was famed for her style and fashion sense, as well as her wit and writing ability. She is pictured here in 1956''
Collins said she always wanted her three daughters (pictured with her as children) to know she was there for them''
Collins, pictured with sister Joan in September 1977, said she had lived life like Frank Sinatra, and had 'done it my way'
The novelist (pictured with Joan Collins in 1974), who spent most of her later life in America, wrote 32 books - all of which made it onto the New York Times Bestsellers' List''
Collins' success was replicated in each of her next novels, which were read by more than 500million people around the globe, including Oprah (left)
She and her sister Joan started acting in British B movies, but Jackie largely gave up acting in the 1960s, although did play herself briefly in Minder in 1980.
The two remained close friends, with Jackie telling People magazine in 1987 that she wished her mother could seen what the pair of them have achieved before her death.
Her father, Joe, was proud of her, but thought her books were 'pornographic'. 'But he is 83 years old and if he liked my books, I would have to change my style,' she said at the time.
It was her writing that brought Collins stardom, with her first novel, The World Is Full of Married Men, causing controversy after its release in 1968.
Critics branded it 'nasty, filthy and disgusting' and it was banned in Australia and South Africa, but its resulting notoriety caused a huge sales boost in the US and the UK.
Her success was replicated in each of her next novels, which were read by more than 500million people around the globe.
In the 1980s, Collins and her family moved to Los Angeles full-time. Her next novel, Chances, featured her most famous character - Lucky Santangelo.
The 'dangerously beautiful' daughter of gangster Gino Santangelo would feature in nine of her best-selling books, of which two were serialized for television, starring Nicollete Sheridan and Sandra Bullock.
Critics branded Collins' (pictured in the late 1960s) first novel The World Is Full of Married Men 'nasty, filthy and disgusting' and it was banned in Australia and South Africa''
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She and her sister Joan started acting in British B movies, but Jackie (pictured in 1955) largely gave up acting in the 1960s
Collins' success was replicated in each of her next novels, which were read by more than 500million people around the globe''
Collins (pictured in 1968) was given an OBE in the 2013 Birthday Honours for services to fiction and charity. She is pictured here in 1968''
The best-selling author (pictured in 1956) had spoken to her three daughters Tracy, 54, Tiffany, 48, and Rory, 46, about her illness''
Collins (pictured at her home in Beverly Hills in 1984) said she had lived life like Frank Sinatra, and 'did it my way'. She is pictured here in 1984
Collins (pictured in 1968) wed two times and was engaged to be married a third time, but her fiance died
Collins would always buy herself a present after a successful novel, and purchased herself a silver Cadillac Seville after the release of Hollywood Husbands - another chart-topper. It would go on to sell at auction for just over $7,000 in 2006.
She went on to present her own daily television show in 1998, Jackie Collins Hollywood, in which she interviewed stars of stage, screen and music, including George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez.
Collins married two times, wedding her first husband Wallace Austin in 1960. They had one child, Tracy, born in 1961, before their divorce in 1964.
In 1965, Collins married art gallery and nightclub owner, Oscar Lerman.
They married in the home of her sister Joan and Anthony Newley, and went on two have two daughters, Tiffany and Rory. Lerman also adopted Collins' Tracy. Lerman died in 1992 from prostate cancer.
In the Sunday Times Rich List 2011, Collins was listed as the UK's fifth richest author with an estimated personal fortune of $96million
TUMECHOTA NA KUMIMINA KUTOKA DM ILI MJIONEE''
