Jerry Kelly
Preparing for the Fight Mentally
In January 2000, Jerry Kelly knew something wasn't right. After experiencing pain and discomfort, Mr. Kelly discovered that he had testicular cancer. "The first thing I thought of was how I lost my father to brain cancer," he recalls. "Then I started torealize the scope of what I was about to go through. I really experienced more mental and emotional stress than physical. I felt like I needed to get things in order."

Mr. Kelly was concerned over how to tell Angie, his wife of only four months, about his diagnosis, as well as his mother and his three daughters. In addition to his physical health, he was overwhelmed with the other issues a newly diagnosed cancer patient commonly faces— resolving insurance concerns, finding a support system, and learning what to expect during treatment, for example. “There are so many things going through your mind that you don’t know what to say or to ask,” he says. “I had to mentally shift gears to start asking those questions.”

Mr. Kelly underwent surgery and six weeks of radiation therapy. During his treatment, he began reading about Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong, also a testicular cancer survivor. “It was inspiring to read what Lance had gone through,” he says. “After I read his story, I became involved with the cancer community and started meeting other survivors. I learned that I had to take over and not let cancer control my life.”

Mr. Kelly believes that awareness and education are key in the fight against cancer. Since his experience seven years ago, he and his wife have become tireless advocates for the cause. They have lobbied for research money in Congress and traveled across the country promoting cancer awareness through the Lance Armstrong Foundation. They also established “Ride to Live,” a local cycling event that raises money for research at the UAB Cancer Center.

In early 2006, cancer returned to Mr. Kelly when he was diagnosed with an early stage melanoma. Because it was detected quickly, it was easily treated, and he credits that victory to his history with cancer. He tells others that the first step to beating cancer is to know as much as possible about the disease and maintain a schedule of regular check-ups. “You have to have a good attitude,” he says. “Learn not to fear the cancer, but respect it.”