Kelley Legler: Mom, Entrepreneur and Breast Cancer Survivor!

From Diagnosis to Determination: Her Breast Cancer Battle

The word "cancer" is often met with fear and uncertainty. For Kelley Legler, this reality hit home with a breast cancer diagnosis in March 2025.  After finding two lumps in her LEFT armpit from a home exam, she booked her annual mammogram with her medical team. Based on previous experience, it was important for her to request a "diagnostic mammogram / ultrasound" as it can provide more clarity when having dense breast tissue. The LEFT side was cleared as simple benign inflammations from shaving but they found two "spots of interest" in her RIGHT side.  The right was never EVER a factor and nothing could be found by sight or touch. Immediately the team scheduled a biopsy for two days later...

The thoughts of wanting to vomit, cry hysterically and spiral consumed me in those moments following the doctor visit. I knew based on the energy in the room, the faces of the staff and the urgency of a scheduled biopsy that this was cancer. My world was forever changed and ironically I was 1 day shy of my annual mammogram (which showed zero signs in 2024). 

Most women go alone to their annual mammograms. It is a routine exam and test that you pray you are never 1 in 8 - an in and out procedure that takes less than an hour of your time. it is not painful and it can save your life.  My mammogram saved mine. It caught something that was never on my radar or my doctor's and caught it early enough to allow for months of necessary precautionary treatments to ensure a lower chance of returning.  

Upon leaving the hospital that day, my legs were weak, my head in a  fog and I couldn't focus. I remember going down the steps of the medical building and just noticing people more -- wondering if their world had changed like mine.  We were all in that building because of CANCER and this all made me break down crying in my car. I called my husband, my best friends and my business partner to keep me stay in control of the drive home. That day, I stopped all my obligations -- I picked up my daughter from school early and just stayed home with her on the couch. I did not want to be alone.  I knew I was 1 in 8. 

Two days later I went back to the cancer center for my biopsy. At the time, this was one of the most uncomfortable procedures. For breast cancer, you have to lay flat on your stomach, your breasts in open holes in a table and arms up like Superman for roughly 40 minutes.  I worked closely with my therapist to identify a "calming word" that would help me through my many levels of anxiety during this procedure.  I chose LOVEY. 

LOVEY was two syllables. I would breathe in LOVE. I would breathe out EEEEEEE.  It helped me significantly to meditate throughout all of this and remain calm.