Diem Brown is a fighter. Now battling cancer for a third time, the reality star is understandably scared, but nonetheless determined to beat the disease once and for all. Speaking exclusively with Us Weekly's Jennifer Peros about her recent diagnosis, the 32-year-old fan favorite from MTV's The Challenge says she's been moved by all the love she's gotten as she gears up for another round of treatment.
"I can't lie. I do feel weak and overwhelmed, but the support I've received has honestly touched my heart in a way I'll never be able to describe," she tells Us. "I thought people would be sick of hearing about the 'MTV cancer girl.'"
The Atlanta, Ga., native was just 22 when doctors first diagnosed her with ovarian cancer. She beat it once with chemotherapy, but in June 2012, she learned the cancer had recurred. A second round of treatment followed, and in early 2013, the sunny blonde announced that she was once again cancer-free — which makes this third diagnosis all the more difficult to take.
"Honestly, this time around has trumped the past diagnoses in terms of fear and hopelessness," she admits to Us. "But the outpouring of support has been my strength and my crutch when it's hard to find the silver lining."
Brown's diagnosis, as she explains it, is aggressive ovarian cancer that spread into two areas of her colon, with tumors throughout her stomach and stomach lining, as well. She's already had two surgeries to remove the tumors in her colon, and she's getting ready now for five rounds of chemo to shrink the stomach tumors so doctors can perform a treatment called HIPEC, or hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy.
"HIPEC scares me," Brown tells Us, "but I'm hoping at the end of all this, I can finally be done and free from cancer once and for all."
If you'd like to help, Brown's loved ones have set up a donation page on MedGift, a site created by Brown herself that acts like a wedding registry for patients, allowing friends and family to offer financial, physical, or emotional support.
