It's National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The American Cancer Society says 1 in 8 US women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. One Tucson woman got the breast cancer diagnosis two years ago. On October 20th, 2015, Brandi Edwards was diagnosed with triple positive stage 2B breast cancer.
"I had found a mass in my right breast due to my favorite bra didn't fit. I hand wash all of my bras so I know it wasn't cause my bra had shrunken. By doing a self-exam I found a golf size lump in my breast," said Edwards
Edwards was shocked and devastated. Her treatment included chemotherapy and radiation. She also chose to have a double mastectomy. With her husband and five children by her side, Edwards said they gave her the strength to get through a tough time.
"He never let me down, never let the kids down, he was a trooper. And when I would cry, he would cry with me," said Edwards about her husband.
Edwards lost both of her parents to cancer. At 43 years old, she is now a breast cancer survivor, but her fight isn't over.
"Because of my age and having the her2 positive breast cancer, I have a 40 percent chance of the cancer coming back in the next five years. Of that 40 percent, there's another 40 percent it will come back as brain cancer," said Edwards.
Edwards is currently taking a daily chemo pill and will have to do so for the next ten years. She remains a fighter and is getting ready for the Making Strides Tucson Walk.
"It's going to take a lot more than cancer to kill me. I have too much to live for, too much left in this life before I go anywhere," said Edwards.
