MEDIA CONTACTS:Josh Turner

Kennesaw State Universityjturn128@students.kennesaw.edu

(770) 361-1594RELEASE DATE: Oct. XX, 2015

Walking Over Breast Cancer

Survivor shares story of strength

ATLANTA — Imagine having a miscarriage and a being diagnosed with breast cancer within

two months’ time. While that’s a scary thought to many women, it’s the reality that Kelly Johnson faced

in 2010. Thankfully, she’s survived and thrived, and her story is a testament to why getting checked early

can make all the difference.

“I felt the lump when my body started going back to some form of normalcy after the pregnancy,”

Johnson said. “I put off getting it looked at for a couple of months, but when it started hurting I knew I

should get in to see my doctor.”

Since her grandmother was diagnosed with breast cancer, Johnson had made sure to schedule annual

mammograms. While a diagnostic mammogram did not show evidence of a tumor, an ultrasound did.

“I’m pretty sure all I heard was, ‘Kelly, we see cancerous growth,’” Johnson said. “I don’t remember

anything else, except for my body going numb.”

Johnson discovered that she had Stage 2 invasive ductal carcinoma, an aggressive form of breast cancer

requiring many rounds of targeted drug therapy, chemotherapy and radiation to defeat. Although the

cancer and treatments had an adverse effect on her body, she didn’t let that hold her back. Instead of

-more-

sulking, she participated in her local American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer

walk just two weeks after her diagnosis.

“I did my first American Cancer Society's Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk on Oct. 16, 2010,

and I will continue to walk because I dream of a world where no one will ever have to have their body go

numb with fear after hearing those words,” Johnson said. “Because people need to be educated: early

detection saves lives. I am proof of that.”

The American Cancer Society invites anyone affected by breast cancer to take part, as all who participate

in the Making Strides walks have a story to tell and someone to walk for. For Kelly Johnson, it’s much

more than for her grandmother or for herself.

“I am walking in honor of everyone that has been touched by breast cancer,” Johnson said. “Those that

have fought hard and lost their battle, those that are still fighting, those that have survived and all the

amazing people in our lives that took care of us!”

The Making Strides Walks take place on Saturdays each October. For more information regarding the

American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks, visit:

makingstrides.acsevents.org

The American Cancer Society is a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization dedicated

to eliminating cancer as a major health problem. Headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., the ACS has regional and

local offices throughout the country that support 11 geographical divisions and ensure that there’s a

presence in every community.

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