Carlene King’s optimism and independence presented a tough challenge for the Stage 2 breast cancer she was diagnosed with in 2007 at the age of 45. As a real estate broker and single mother of two teenage daughters, Tyroniece and Brionna, Carlene embraced the diagnosis as simply another challenge to conquer. Carlene’s mission is to inform and educate others on the issues of cancer, specifically within the African-American community. Being a cancer navigator survivor has become her calling.

Carlene volunteers with Cancer Care Services as a member of the board of directors. She also helps client-related services for CCS, Komen for the Cure and The American Cancer Society. In this capacity she participates in media interviews, health fairs, outreach and awareness activities, as well as one-on-one with cancer patients. As a survivor and mentor her role is walk hand-in-hand with a cancer patient from the beginning of their diagnosis all the way through the end of treatment and recovery so they don’t have to go through any of it alone or without hope. Her daughters have joined her in Komen’s Race for the Cure and are great advocates for themselves and their friends on cancer education and prevention.