She's 34, has 3 kids, and a Colorado Springs mother is in the fight of her life. She was diagnosed with breast cancer just six months ago.

She sat down to share her story with KKTV. Nikki Gardner just wants people to be aware that cancer can strike anyone at anytime and it can spread fast.

It was just after Christmas when she found a lump in her breast. "It got harder, it grew and then I was concerned," Gardner said.

With no health insurance it was hard to find a doctor to check her out. After waiting two months she finally went to the hospital and her diagnosis was not good.

"It's called HER2/neu and it's a very unusual cancer and it's very aggressive, I guess 10 years ago it was deadly, no one could survive it," Gardner said.

The cancer had already spread to her liver and so she started chemo immediately.

"It was pure shock, I was 34, I have 3 kids, I need to live this life," she said.

As her battle began she says she tried her best to stay positive for her family.

"It was difficult. The kids see it, the kids cry, they wonder what's going on with mom, why is she so sick?" Gardner said.

She lost weight and she lost her hair. "We sat the chair out in the middle of the room and handed the kids a shaver and said have at it and they all got to take my hair off," Gardner said.

Six chemo treatments later Nikki finally got the news she'd been praying for, her cancer was in remission. "I've never heard more people cry out of happiness," she said.

But she says her battle is far from over, the disease has completely changed her life.

"I wake up everyday thanking God, I'm so glad that I get to watch my kids grow," she said.

Nikki has to have another mastectomy surgery on Monday. This weekend she is walking in her first ever Race for the Cure event as a cancer survivor.

All major television networks, including us here at KKTV, will be dedicating an hour to the fight against cancer. The Stand Up To Cancer special airs at 7 p.m. on Friday.