Jennifer's battle with breast cancer

Jennifer Merendino was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2008, just five months after she married photographer Angelo Merendino. He decided to document his wife's battle against the disease. "I didn't really come up with the idea," he told CBSNews.com. "It was more of a necessity."

The series of photographs, which are titled "The Battle We Didn't Choose," can be viewed online at MyWifesFightWithBreastCancer.com and on Angelo's YouTube channel.

Jennifer was diagnosed with stage 3B breast cancer, which meant it spread to some of her lymph nodes. Doctors removed a few of her lymph nodes, and she underwent a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. She also went through radiation and other treatments.

Angelo had always taken pictures of Jennifer, but began really photographing her struggles after her cancer metastasized to her bones and liver in April 2010.

Angelo explained that at the beginning of Jennifer's diagnosis, family and friends were always there. However, when her cancer returned in 2010, the couple noticed that there wasn't as much support as the first time around. They felt it was because people didn't really see and understand how cancer was affecting them.

"We didn't know about cancer a few years before this happened to us so we understood it

Over the course of a year and four months, Angelo documented the experience of fighting breast cancer through Jennifer's eyes.

The photographs, which at first were only intended for friends and family, were meant to help remind people that Angelo and Jennifer still needed their support.

"People told Jen things like, 'You have to be okay, you just have to stay positive," he said. "We were positive, and Jen was very aggressive in her treatment. It wasn't just a mindset -- it was cancer spreading through her body."

Angelo pointed out the importance of friends and family for someone who has cancer.

"You don't have to have the answer," Angelo explained. "Many people say, 'We don't know what to say to you guys or how to act.' They don't need to know what to say or act. They just need need to be there."

Jennifer and Angelo traveled to the beach during her treatments one summer. She had been using a walker because her hip had weakened.

At first, she thought she was too frail to swim in the water. However, she eventually asked her sister and husband to help her walk in the waves. Finally, she asked them to let go and floated on her own in the ocean.

"It was one of the most beautiful moments of my life...just watching Jen floating in the ocean and having fun," Angelo wrote.

He said that during the entire time Jennifer was battling breast cancer, he knew he had to stay strong for her. They always kept a positive outlook.

"Jennifer was determined to not let cancer determine her life and take over," said Angelo.

"There were a lot of thoughts that I had to put away," Angelo said. "I felt that if I went too far with these thoughts, it would get in the way of me taking care of Jen, and all I wanted was to take care of Jen."

Throughout her battle with cancer, Jennifer and Angelo were very open about their experiences.

Angelo said it helped to hear about how other people faced cancer, and what they were doing to stay strong.

Jennifer passed away on December 22, 2011.

Sharing the photographs has helped Angelo grieve, and he is thankful for the outpouring of support he has received online.

"It's humbling for people to reach out and share the things that they've shared with me," he said.

Angelo hopes that the photographs don't only tell Jennifer's story, but remind people to cherish their loved ones while they can.

"I hope people will think many things (about these photographs)," Angelo said. "One, if they know someone who is going through something like this, I hope people will stop for a minute and have a little more patience with each other. I hope the photos put them in (cancer victim's) shoes or their spouses', and they will love each other more and not take for granted that they're together."

"I know cancer is a heavy theme in these photographs, but to me, the photographs were about life and love more than they were about anything else," he added.

Angelo is currently displaying the photographs online and in several art gallery shows. He is also working with an editor to publish a book. "It's making something positive out of a really horrible experience," he said.