MILWAUKEE -- Longtime Milwaukee television journalist Melodie Wilson has died of cancer at age 59.

Wilson was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992 and became a public advocate for others fighting breast cancer. She founded the group After Breast Cancer Diagnosis, or ABCD, which provided mentoring for cancer patients.

Wilson joined WTMJ-TV in 1974 and was later promoted to 10 p.m. co-anchor with John McCullough. She joined WITI-TV in 1992 and left in 1998 to found ABCD.

Wilson began her career at the Mesabi Daily News near Duluth, Minn. She also worked at WDIO-TV in Duluth before moving to Milwaukee.

She is survived by her husband, Wayne Oldenburg, three daughters and one son.

Wilson died at her home in River Hills Monday evening.