Loose Women panellist Brenda Edwards has said she has a completely new outlook on life after her battle with cancer and the sudden death of her son Jamal.
The former X Factor star, 55, who has been cancer-free for nine years, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, when she was just 46 years old.
For Brenda, having cancer has made her “appreciate every day” because it has made her “face a life of uncertainty” after the difficult times she has gone through.
she said The mirror: ‘Having cancer changes anyone, because you face a life of uncertainty, so it makes you appreciate life every day.
‘I am very grateful for what life brings me. I have always been ambitious but now I am even more so. If you don’t try, you’ll never know. Maybe you’ll get it, so I’ll try almost anything.
Loose Women panelist Brenda Edwards, 55, said she has a completely new outlook on life after her battle with cancer and the sudden death of her son Jamal.
The former X Factor star, who has been cancer-free for nine years, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 when she was just 46 years old.
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, they tell you that if there’s anything else, no matter how big or small, you mark it.” It’s good to have someone like Coleen because she’s so funny. Coleen is the perfect person to distract you from thinking about the worst.
Brenda found a lump under her right breast in late 2015 and began six months of chemotherapy before undergoing a mastectomy and breast reconstruction.
He 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 occur and the symptoms to look out for.
Secondary breast cancer, also known as metastatic breast cancer, occurs when tumor cells that started in the breast move to other parts of the body.
Speaking of 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 do not know which areas of the body can be affected by secondary breast cancer and do not know what to look for.”
Adding: “The areas most likely to be affected by breast cancer are the head, brain, lungs, skin and liver.”
She said: ‘Having cancer changes anyone, because you face a life of uncertainty, so it makes you appreciate life every day. I am very grateful for what life brings me. I’ve always been ambitious 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, they tell you that if there’s anything else, no matter how big or small, you mark it.” It’s good to have someone like Coleen because she’s so funny. Coleen is the perfect person to distract you from thinking about the worst.
His son Jamal died in February 2022 at the age of 31 from cardiac arrest caused by cocaine and alcohol.
Brenda opened up about his devastating death and her struggle with grief on Ashley Cain’s MTV show Faces, emotionally sharing that she was with her son when he died.
She spoke out about the news of Jamal’s death that was shared online just hours after his death, and admitted that she will never get over the “anger” she felt at having the announcement taken down.
Speaking about the episode, he said: “I was with Jamal when he passed away, his sister and I and I can say he was very calm but it was a heartbreaking moment for me.”
The former X Factor star continued to speak out about the news of Jamal’s death which circulated on social media before she could post an announcement.
Brenda admitted she was “very angry” after seeing the news had surfaced on social media and said she doesn’t think she’ll ever come to terms with the “disrespect.”