Houston singer shares inspirational story about breast cancer battle

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- Breast Cancer Awareness month ends this week, and to mark the importance of the issue, a Houston singer who survived the disease is sharing her truly inspiring story.

For most of Nicole Hurst's life, her talent has opened doors for her, touring the world with superstars like Kelly Clarkson.

She's been a background singer with Justin Timberlake and many other stars, even singing at the white house. But in July 2013, while preparing for a Timberlake and Jay-Z tour, she received shocking news.

"I was diagnosed with Stage 2 triple positive breast cancer," she said. "I was um, I think one of my first thoughts was, am I going to die?"

Hurst was only 31 years old. Her parents were heartbroken. It would prove to be a long, tough battle for Hurst who was traveling back and forth to M.D. Anderson for treatment.

"I had four months of chemo followed by my surgery which I had a mastectomy," she said.

But the cancer was aggressive.

"Even while I was on chemotherapy my tumor doubled in size," Hurst said.

Her cancer escalated stage 3 and it seemed all the treatment wasn't working.

"I was in the bathroom on the floor like bawling my eyes out and I was like, 'I don't know why I'm going through this Lord but I trust you. I trust that you are going to get me through this,'" she said.

But Hurst kept her eyes on the stage.

"Mentally I told myself, you've got to get through this because you've got to get back on the road," she said.

And she did. Two years later, she's in therapy at M.D. Anderson but her cancer is in remission.