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Cancer Survivor, Fin Fan's Battle Touches Team's Heart

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- It's hard to catch Nina Brumbaugh without a smile on her face even when there is little to celebrate.

When she was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 28, she had only one concern, her 3-year old son.

"That's what kept me going. I had a son. I'm a single mom. He's my world, my everything and I will fight this until I beat this," said Brumbaugh.

She beat it the first time then it came back two and a half years later.

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"They did the scans and it went everywhere mostly to my bones, my femur, spine, ribs," said Brumbaugh. "They did a full hysterectomy, ovaries and uterus … when it came back my only thought was God got me through it the first time, he will get me through it again."

She's been on an experimental study drug for the past year and it's working.

Brumbaugh is studying to be a medical assistant so she can help patients who are in their own battle.

Her inspiring story touched the Miami Dolphins who learned she is a lifelong fan. They are giving her a pregame pass on the field and tickets to the Dolphins versus Jets game on December 28th.

The connection runs even deeper.

Brumbaugh's treatments are done at the University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center and the team's biggest fundraiser, the Dolphins Cycling Challenge, is all for the cancer center.

"One hundred percent of the funds go to Sylvester. We raised $7 million in the first four years of this event," said the CEO of Dolphins Cycling Challenge Michael Mandich.

Meantime, Brumbaugh says she will not give up.

"I've not given up….I've never once been 'oh I have cancer…that's the last thought from my mind," she said.

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