When Patti Kelly found a small lump before a long-awaited vacation, she never imagined it would lead to a breast cancer diagnosis. Her recovery brought a new purpose: to inspire others and champion the importance of early detection.
A Year of Challenges and New Beginnings
For Patti, 2024 was a year of transition. After her role was eliminated during a workforce reduction, she took time to determine the future of her career. She then launched her own marketing consultancy firm.
“It ultimately was a good transition for my career and has given me a lot of flexibility to not only continue doing work I am passionate about, but to also have more flexibility for my kids,” she said.
A Life-Changing Discovery
Two months after launching her business, Patti felt a pea-sized lump in her right breast while buckling her daughter in her car seat.
“My husband and I were getting ready to leave for a trip to Spain, and we were dropping the kids off with my in-laws,” she said. “I don’t know if it was divine intervention, but my hand went right to the lump.”
Trying not to panic, Patti called her primary care doctor to determine what she should do. “She told me not to worry and enjoy our vacation, but to schedule an appointment with her when we returned,” Patti said. “I tried to put it out of my mind during the trip, but I found myself feeling for it every day.”
The Breast Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Plan
Once she was home, Patti scheduled a mammogram and tried not to worry. After all, her previous mammogram, which she had eight months earlier, had come back clear. However, this time, the doctor did see something suspicious. An ultrasound and breast biopsy confirmed her fears. At age 43, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
“Everything happened so fast that I didn’t have a lot of time to process it,” she said. “I tried to absorb as much information as possible to make informed decisions about my treatment.”
Since her cancer was found at an early stage and had not spread to her lymph nodes, Patti chose to proceed with a double mastectomy. However, after cancer was found in the margins, she had an additional surgery to remove the remaining cancerous tissue. Four months after her mastectomy, she had reconstruction surgery.
Navigating the Side Effects of Hormone Therapy
“Although my risk of recurrence is low, my oncologist recommended I take tamoxifen for five years,” Patti said. “That has been a hard journey, because for some women, the medication can mimic the symptoms of menopause. I felt like I experienced every possible side effect you can imagine while taking it.”
For the first six weeks, she experienced no side effects and thought she was going to be able to handle the medication. Then she was hit with an onslaught of side effects, including hot flashes, night sweats and sleep disturbances.
“The emotional side effects were the hardest to navigate,” she said. “It felt like I couldn’t get out from under this fog of sadness.”
Making Informed Decisions About Hormone Therapy
After discussing the side effects with her doctor, Patti chose to take a break from the medicine in early 2025.
“It was a struggle to decide and weigh the benefits with the side effects,” she said. “I have two small children and needed to be the best version of myself for them. “
In the future, she and her oncologist will look at trying a reduced dose to decrease the severity of side effects from the medication.
Embracing Her Breast Cancer Experience to Inspire Others
In March 2025, Patti was invited to share her story during Komen’s Big Pink Gala in Austin.
“I was honored to be asked and immediately said yes, but I felt a bit of imposter syndrome,” she said. “My cancer journey was hard, but it was nothing compared to what a lot of women go through. But after thinking it over, I realized my story is one of early detection and being proactive about your breast health, which is what I chose to focus on when sharing my story.”
Following the event, which raised $520,000 to support Komen’s mission to end breast cancer, Patti was asked to serve as the executive chairperson for the 2026 Big Pink Gala. She looks forward to bringing her experience as a breast cancer survivor and communications professional together to raise awareness and funds to support the cause.
“Breast cancer can be very personal, but I feel called to help people experiencing it,” she said. “I’m very open about my journey, and hopefully, my dark days can help someone else’s be lighter.”
Statements and opinions expressed are those of the individual and do not express the views or opinions of Susan G. Komen. This information is being provided for educational purposes only and is not to be construed as medical advice. Persons with breast cancer should consult their health care provider with specific questions or concerns about their treatment.
