JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- A day after her death, family members and friends are remembering Jackie Brown as a strong woman and a courageous community activist.

Brown, a Jacksonville native, lost her battle with breast cancer last weekend. She was 43.

Brown, from a working-class family with nine children, was the first in her family to graduate from high school and college. After graduation, she had trouble finding a job, so she worked her way up in her father's building subcontracting business, earning licenses in general contracting and underground utilities.

Brown's son told Channel 4 he could sum his mother up in one word -- strength.

She recently challenged Mayor John Peyton for his office.

The disease that claimed Brown's life also affects thousands of other women every year.

Eight years ago, Beverly Conrad-Porter was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 37.

"Basically, the doctors where I went, I'm not going to say specifics, basically told me I was too young to have breast cancer, and I waited about eight months and saw that the lump was getting larger," said Conrad-Porter.

Noticing its development, she contacted a surgeon. She said that two weeks later she was undergoing chemotherapy -- a prime reason why doctors say breast cancer is serious business.

"On average, over 200,000 women will be diagnosed per year. Over 40,000 of those will pass away for that year," said Dr. Joseph Mignone, oncologist. "As far as race, it's actually more common in the Caucasian race but that doesn't become prevalent until after the age of 50."

Mignone said a major reason for the high death rate is the women who don't get checked out.

One of the main points brought up by the doctor was that women who are at least 40 years old should regularly get a mammogram. However, the doctor also pointed out that not only females needed to be concerned about the disease.

"Especially if there's a family history or a genetic reason for having breast cancer, males should get examined," Mignone said.

Getting examined is something Conrad-Porter said she highly encourages, so there could be more stories like hers to be told.

"If you see any change in your breast whatsoever -- a hardening of tissues, a lump that you can feel at the touch, the inversion of your nipple or any discharge from your nipple -- then you need to immediately go to the doctor and get it checked out because you could have breast cancer," Conrad-Porter said.