THE family of a Blackburn woman who fought breast cancer for three years today paid tribute to her tenacity and bravery in trying to beat the illness.

Penny Rose Lewis, 36, died at her home in Brownhill Road on Monday, May 10, surrounded by her husband, mother, three brothers and other family members.

Penny, who leaves behind a nine-year-old son, Bradley, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001 and for three years she travelled the length and breath of the country for different treatments, including chemotherapy and a mastectomy.

Her brother Michael Fox, 40, of Edgeware Road, told how just before her death Penny had the strength to say "I love you all". He said: "She loved her family and was more concerned about us. She had a smile on her face right to the end and even then she wanted to get out of bed."

Her husband Shaun, 37, said: "We were shocked when we first found out about the cancer.

"But we knew there was hope because she went in for an operation straight away.

"She went for follow-up treatment to make sure no cells had gone astray but the scans showed the cancer was in her bones and her liver. That was the hardest part because she went very reclusive and she would not come out of the bedroom for a while.

"At one stage she had been told she had 12 to 18 months to live but I said there was no point giving up and we should carry on with the treatment because you never know. She did not give up and that is why she lived for a lot longer than they said."

Her mother Sally Fox, 61, of Neath Close, Blackburn, said: "She was more concerned for her family and brothers than for herself. She never moaned about her cancer and she was so strong right to the end. She loved life and lived it to the full."

Despite her cancer, in June 2002 Penny took part in the Race for Life fundraiser in tribute to her close friend Denise Tattersall-Derbyshire, also of Brownhill, who died at just 30 from breast cancer. The pair had met at a breast cancer support group. Penny's funeral took place at St James' Church, Blackburn on Friday, where 350 people mourned her death.