Young breast cancer survivor fights for 30th birthday

BALTIMORE, Md. -  

It was a week after my graduation, thank goodness Iwas able to graduate with my girlfriends and finish college....I was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer at 21.  It had metastasized to my liver.

Bridget Spence's life was supposed to be just beginning....graduating with her degree in International Business she had plans of living and working abroad.

I honestly was so young.  I think Iwas more upset about living at home with my parents than I was about having cancer.

After 6 months of chemotherapy.  The seriousness of her condition set in.

I really felt like I never had a fighting chance because my diagnosis was so late, and I want to make sure that doesn't happen to anyone else.

Instead of anger, she's an advocate raising awareness about breast cancer and the continuing need for research and fundraising.  On this day we caught up with Bridget at her alma mater,Roland Park Country school.  For this year’s Komen Maryland race....her school has team of about 90 students running in her honor.

I don't think I'll ever have children and all of my friends at this age are having babies, buying houses, so I'm trying to find concrete ways to feel really successful.  Like Ihave an impact.  I'm leaving a legacy.

I love talking to other survivors because I'm a worst case scenario.  I have cancer in my liver, my lungs and in my bones and I'm still living a full life.

Bridget married her college sweetheart Alex,  August 2009.  They met five months before she was diagnosed.  They've traveled the world in between her 10 surgeries more than 20 different drug therapies and at least 3 clinical trials.  This August they bought a home.   Her next goal living to see her 30th birthday, July 16th.  She says the fight for a cure must go on.

There are days when i feel sorry for myself, and when I'm too sick to get out of bed.  I need people behind me on my sick days fighting for me so that I can have just a few more days with my husband.  Every month with him is precious and if I can have just a little more time with him, I'm so thankful.

Kelly Swoope, ABC2 News.