Loose Women panellist Brenda Edwards has said she has a whole new look on life following her cancer battle and the sudden death of her son Jamal.
The former X Factor star, 55, who has been cancer-free for nine years now, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 when she was just 46.
For Brenda, having cancer has made her ‘appreciate every day’ because it has made her ‘face a life of uncertainty’ following the tough times she’s endured.
She told The Mirror: ‘Having cancer changes anybody, because you face a life of uncertainty, so it does make you appreciate life every day.
‘I’m very grateful for what life brings me. I’ve always been a go-getter but now I’m even more so. If you don’t try, you’ll never know. You might succeed, so I’ll try almost anything.’
Loose Women panellist Brenda Edwards, 55, has said she has a whole new look on life following her cancer battle and the sudden death of her son Jamal
The former X Factor star, who has been cancer-free for nine years now, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 when she was just 46
Brenda also credits her co-star Coleen Nolan for going to the hospital for tests with her when she felt a new lump, which was given the all clear.
She said: ‘Once you’ve had it, you’re told that if there’s anything else, no matter how big or small, to flag it. It’s nice to have someone like Coleen because she’s so funny. Coleen is the perfect person to distract you and keep your mind off the worst.’
Brenda found a lump under her right breast at the end of 2015 and began six months of chemotherapy before having a mastectomy and breast reconstruction.
She spoke to MailOnline as part of the new GenesisCare Second Chance campaign which aims to raise awareness of where in the body secondary cancer is most likely to strike and the symptoms to look out for.
Secondary breast cancer, also known as metastatic breast cancer, is when tumour cells which started in the breast move to other parts of the body.
Speaking about her own battle with the disease Brenda said: ‘Some things are out of your control, cancer is definitely one of them, but for me it was trying to be as positive as possible’.
‘72% of breast cancer survivors are unaware of what areas of your body can be effected by secondary breast cancer to know what to look for’.
Adding: ‘The most likely areas to effected by breast cancer are your head, your brain, your lungs, your skin, your liver’.
She said: ‘Having cancer changes anybody, because you face a life of uncertainty, so it does make you appreciate life every day. I’m very grateful for what life brings me. I’ve always been a go-getter but now I’m even more so’
Brenda also credits her co-star Coleen Nolan for going to the hospital for tests with her when she felt a new lump, which was given the all clear
She said: ‘Once you’ve had it, you’re told that if there’s anything else, no matter how big or small, to flag it. It’s nice to have someone like Coleen because she’s so funny. Coleen is the perfect person to distract you and keep your mind off the worst’
Her son Jamal died in February 2022 at age of 31 from cardiac arrest, brought on from cocaine and alcohol.
Brenda opened up about his devastating death and her struggles with grief on Ashley Cain’s MTV show Faces, emotionally sharing that she was with her son when he died.
She spoke about the news of Jamal’s death being shared online just hours after his death, admitting she will never get over the ‘anger’ she felt at the announcement being taken away from her.
Speaking on the episode she said: ‘I was with Jamal when he passed, me and his sister and I can say he was so peaceful but it was a gut-wrenching moment for me.’
The former X Factor star went on to speak about the news of Jamal’s death being circulated on social media before she was able to put out an announcement.
Brenda admitted she was ‘very angry’ after seeing the news had broken on social media and said she doesn’t think she will ever come to terms with the ‘disrespect’.
