Oregon resident Brittany Maynard is a 29-year-old woman diagnosed with terminal cancer. In an attempt to control her life and death, Maynard will be ending her life by taking a lethal medication that is allowed under the state's Death with Dignity Act.

According to Maynard's story, which she shared with CNN, she explained how she came to the decision to end her life on Nov. 1, a day after her husband's birthday.

About a year into her marriage, Brittany wrote that she was diagnosed with brain cancer. After numerous treatment, it was found that by April, the cancer had returned and was now more aggressive.

She explained that after months of searching for a solution, she came to the heartbreaking conclusion that "There is no treatment that would save my life, and the recommended treatments would have destroyed the time I had left," wrote Maynard.

Realizing that due to her age and health, it may take a while for her to go and wanted to spare her loved ones the pain of watching her deteriorate. After looking into end-of-life-options and death with dignity, she decided that it was the best option, not only for herself but her family as well.

"I am not suicidal. If I were, I would have consumed that medication long ago. I do not want to die. But I am dying. And I want to die on my own terms," explained Maynard.

She believes that the ability to dictate how her life should end is crucial. "It has given me a sense of peace during a tumultuous time that otherwise would be dominated by fear, uncertainty and pain," she continued.

With this experience, Brittany is an advocate for end-of-life choices. According to her website, the Brittany Maynard fund aims "to expand the death-with-dignity option to all." The information provided on the site shares that only five states in the United States offer physician-assisted suicide - or death with dignity. These being Oregon, Washington, Montana, Vermont and New Mexico.

"Death with dignity is an option every person deserves, to reduce suffering at the end of life and die in comfort and control, with dignity," explained the website.

CBC noted that the Death with Dignity Act of Oregon has been in effect since 1997 and has since provided "752 eligible patients have used fatal, doctor-prescribed prescriptions to die."  

See the Brittany Maynard Fund video below: