Diem Brown is one strong woman. The MTV Challenge star, 32, was recently diagnosed with cancer for the third time, and she is facing the health crisis head-on.
“I’ll beat cancer again,” Brown tells Us Weekly. “I’m a warrior.”
The blonde beauty’s ongoing battle with ovarian cancer has continued, and she learned this past summer that her disease has spread to her colon and stomach lining. She has been undergoing chemotherapy, and will receive her second of five treatments later this month on Tuesday, Nov. 18.
“My doctors will be able to tell then if the cocktail is working to shrink the tumors,” Brown tells Us’ Jennifer Peros, adding that her first treatment took a week to recover from.
“I was terrified this was going to be my forever,” she tells Us of the post-treatment pain. “I have good days and bad.”
Brown was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2006, and, after chemo, was given a second diagnosis in 2012. “My doctor just called me and I have Cancer again,” she tweeted that June. “Didn’t think ovarian cancer could come back. Please get internal ultrasounds every year.”
As she prepares to go back in for treatment once more, Brown has surrounded herself with family and friends, and is focusing on positive thinking. Her sister Megan Brown, who has stayed by her side, tells Us, “In conjunction with chemo, Diem’s doctor suggested imagining herself healthy and cancer-free.”
The inspiring reality star has found a silver lining in her health struggle, founding the charity organization MedGift, which provides support through presents and financial gifts for ill patients.
Brown also sees a bright future ahead for herself. When she found out that she would be undergoing treatment for a second time at the age of 29, the TV personality decided to freeze her eggs in the hopes of having children in the future.
“Whether by surrogate or adoption, I will have a family — period,” Brown says. “I’m not letting this dumb disease take that dream from me. Ever.”
Read more of our sit-down with Diem Brown in the new issue of Us Weekly, on stands now.
