Dame Deborah James' mum Heather has revealed the campaigner admitted she didn't want to die shortly before she died at age 40.
The brave campaigner passed away surrounded by her family in June this year, following a five year battle with bowel cancer.
Deborah was in end-of-life care at her parents' home during her final weeks, with her mother Heather caring for her.
In her first interview following her daughter's death earlier this year, Heather has revealed Dame Deborah admitted to her she didn't want to die in a late-night chat.
Recalling the conversation in an interview with BBC Breakfast, Deborah's mum said: "I can remember lying in bed, probably just about a week or so before she died.
"And she was quite poorly that night and she went, 'I do love you' and I went, 'Yeah I love you'. And she said: 'I have no regrets, you know?'
"And I went: 'that's brilliant' – how many people can say that? But, she did say 'I don't want to die' and that's the hardest, saddest part."
During her hospice care at home, Deborah continued to raise awareness for bowel cancer and also began her Bowelbabe fund during her end-of-life care, which has since raised more than £7.4 million for cancer charities.
The former headteacher also released a book, titled How To Live When You Could Be Dead, as well as a clothing range with In The Style, which raised another £1 million for charities.
She was also awarded a damehood by Prince William, who visited her home to give her the accolade.
Gushing about the incredible day at the time, Dame Deborah wrote on her Instagram: "Prince William actually came to our family house today!! I am utterly honoured that he joined us for afternoon tea and champagne, where he not only spent a generous amount of time talking to my whole family but also honoured me with my Damehood.
"It’s quite surreal having a royal pop in at home, and yes you can imagine the cleaning antics and preparation went off the scale - but it was all irrelevant because William was so kind and he put us all at ease."
During that time, where Deborah also visited the Royal Ascot races, the star spent plenty of quality time with her family to make memories with them.
Heather shared her pride over her daughter's incredible achievements as she said: "I still find that amazing that she had that love of the people out there and that meant a lot. It meant a lot to the family and it still does."
Asked if the public support had been a help, she added: "Yes. I think I could not have coped… we were given three to five days, Deborah lived eight weeks.
"That eight weeks was probably in one way the best eight weeks we’ve had together as a family, even though she died at the end of it.
"How can you not love what she did in that eight weeks and it did help knowing other people loved her and wanted to help in any way they could."
Deborah passed away in June this year following brave five year battle with bowel cancer.
The campaigner's mum paid a heartbreaking tribute to her on her Instagram story shortly after the sad news was announced.
Heather, who goes by the Instagram handle Bowelgran, shared some pictures of her daughter, and admitted her heart was broken as she paid a sweet tribute to her daughter.
"My heart is broken. Love you forever," she wrote alongside a carousel of snaps.
