Elizabeth Edwards dies after losing her fight with cancer

Elizabeth Edwards, 61, the wife of 2004 vice presidential candidate and former North Carolina senator John Edwards, lost her battle with cancer Tuesday, according to CNN.

Edwards was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004, shortly after her husband lost his bid for vice president, and it was later revealed that she knew before the election she might have cancer.

After undergoing treatment, the cancer was believed to be in remission until March 2007, right at the start of her husband’s 2008 presidential campaign, where she learned that the cancer had returned and spread.

Dr. Lisa Carey, the oncologist treating Edwards, categorized the cancer as metastatic stage four cancer, largely confined to the bones, according to CNN.

Edwards said the cancer she had was treatable, but not curable.

However, despite the diagnosis, Edwards said she was ready to continue forward with her husband's bid for the White House.

"Either you push forward with the things that you were doing yesterday or you start dying," she said. "If I had given up everything that my life was about ... I'd let cancer win before it needed to."

Edwards died at the family home in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, according to a statement released by the family.

"Today we have lost the comfort of Elizabeth's presence but she remains the heart of this family," the statement said. "We love her and will never know anyone more inspiring or full of life."