Loose Women regular Brenda Edwards has opened up on how her battle with breast cancer has changed her entire outlook on life – and made her stay on top of her health more than ever before

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Brenda grabs every moment now and lives life to the full, she says(Image: BAFTA via Getty Images)

Popular, straight-talking Brenda Edwards, who first rose to fame on The X Factor in 2005, has opened up exclusively to OK! about how her experience with breast cancer a few years ago totally transformed how the 56-year-old lives her life today.

The TV presenter, singer and actress, who is part of ITV’s Loose Women panel alongside Coleen Nolan, Ruth Langsford and Christine Lampard, has had a very difficult few years – following the tragic death of her son, Jamal Edwards, who passed away in 2022 at the age of just 31 from a cardiac arrest.

But the TV star, who also has a 31-year-old daughter, Tanisha, has also fought breast cancer – and reveals in an exclusive chat with OK! that her experiences have taught her not only the importance of life, but how short it can be.

After being diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in 2015, when she was just 46 and playing Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray, Brenda underwent chemotherapy, a mastectomy and breast reconstruction, and is now cancer-free.

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Brenda has been urging others to help spread awareness(Image: Specsavers)

And though she admits it was terrifying, Brenda says her illness led to a change for the better. “It really makes you appreciate life. It makes you want to grab each moment when you can in whatever way you can. You realise that life isn’t promised to you. I think I’ve also become a bit more confident since facing cancer, to talk about things that have happened to me and to be open,” she adds.

Brenda admits, past experience means she is now extremely vigilant when it comes to looking after her health. “I’m always on top of things to do with my health now, since the diagnosis.

“If something doesn’t feel right, I’m on top of it. For many people, it can be nerve-wracking when something is wrong and you’re worried about whether there’s a problem, but I see it the other way around. What if it’s nothing? It’s better to have peace of mind.”

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Brenda’s son Jamal died in 2022 at the age of 31(Image: Instagram)

It’s this new philosophy on taking meticulous care of her physical and mental health that has led the star to supporting a campaign dubbed The Aunties Army, in conjunction with Specsavers and Glaucoma UK – encouraging those from African-Caribbean backgrounds to get their eyes checked more regularly, as new research shows that African-Caribbean communities are up to four times more likely to develop glaucoma, yet more likely to delay or avoid health appointments.

“I’ve got a history of women in my family having issues with their eyes, so I felt it would be good to use my platform to help raise awareness for people of the African and Caribbean communities,” Brenda says. “Since the campaign video aired, I’ve had messages from people saying they’re going to get checked, so initiatives like this really do work.”

Brenda Edwards supports the Specsavers Aunties Army campaign raising awareness of glaucoma in Afro-Caribbean communities. To watch the video and help spread the message, visit specsavers.co.uk/eye-health/glaucoma