NORMAN — Faith has long been central to OU football coach Brent Venables’ life.

Now, as his wife, Julie, is battling breast cancer, faith has become even more of a rock for Venables and his family to lean on.

"There's no blueprint on how you handle that but our real sanctuary and our true shelter is our faith," Venables said. "It's been nothing short of amazing the group of people that have helped.”

Julie Venables was diagnosed June 16. She underwent surgery Friday.

“We're hopeful we got everything where we maybe can avoid further treatments such as radiation and chemotherapy,” Brent Venables said. “We'll find that out in the next several days.”

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Brent Venables said his wife’s diagnosis took him back to January 2005 when his mother, Nancy, was diagnosed with lung cancer.

“It was a knock-you-off-your-feet diagnosis,” Venables said.

Nancy Venables died in October 2005.

Brent Venables said his wife was up to the challenge of fighting the disease.

“She’s tough,” he said. “As I said, she’s a honey badger. She’s got a medical background as a former nurse, so she already knows the answer to your questions, so get it right, doc.

“She’s amazing.”

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This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OU football coach Brent Venables says wife Julie is battling cancer