Alan Johns

Dr. Alan Johns had just mastered the art of balancing a busy medical practice, teaching at a major medical school and upholding an international reputation when everything in his world was compromised in an instant. In July of 1998, Dr. Johns experienced a life changing moment that shifted his perspective from that of a doctor, to one of a patient.  

Stepping out of the shower, Dr. Johns looked into the mirror, and stared at his chest, perplexed by the look of his left nipple, which appeared to be inverted. With an extensive background in breast health as a gynecologist, he knew an inverted nipple was a sign of breast cancer. He quickly broke into a cold sweat, while a state of sheer panic struck his body. As he began to rub his nipple with the hopes of restoring its physical shape, he felt a small lump underneath. His mind began to race: ‘I run every morning, I’m in great physical shape, I’m healthy, why is this happening?’ With a parent’s event he had to attend lingering over his head, he threw on a shirt and decided to assess the situation later.

For three months, this is what Dr. Johns thought every time he stepped out of the shower. He quickly formed the habit of getting dressed so quickly that most days he didn’t even see it. However the overarching fear and pain remained with him everyday but he didn’t want to accept it.

In the fall of 1998, Dr. Johns was faced with the inevitable. He was at the lake with his wife and daughter, getting ready to partake in one of their favorite sports, water skiing. Thinking about the sight of his inverted nipple with his shirt off, Dr. Johns decided he would undress and put his life vest on while no one was looking. To his surprise, his 16-year-old daughter caught a glimpse of her father’s chest. She simply stated, "Oh man, that’s ugly!" while pointing at her father’s inverted nipple. Dismissing her statement entirely, he quickly zipped up his jacket and jumped in the water. It was at this point he knew he had to do something about the situation.

The following Monday, Dr. Johns finished with work earlier than expected and walked over to the breast cancer portion of the hospital, and asked for a friend working in the department to meet him for an examination.

Both men knew what Dr. Johns’ inverted nipple meant. Reality finally struck Dr. Johns - he was officially the patient and no longer the physician. A biopsy and test were conducted while Dr. Johns shared the news with his family. He received a call the very next day with the results, he had Ductal Cell Carcinoma grade II. Dr. Johns, the gynecologist, had breast cancer.

From this day on, Dr. Johns’ life was completely altered. He had to choose a doctor, a surgeon, a hospital, the best of the best, someone he trusted to take care of him. Through a series of tough decisions, he now understood what his patients went through, and was more empathetic than ever.

A mastectomy, six months of chemotherapy, five years of drugs, daily hot flashes and numerous mammograms later, Dr. Johns successfully completed his fight at the age of 55. He now considers himself cancer free, his personal battle with breast cancer complete. But with this success comes the realization that his real quest has just begun.

Dr. Johns’ personal experience with breast cancer makes him a fantastic doctor for consulting women and men who are in the same position he was. Dr. Johns, along with his friend Joan Katz, also a breast cancer survivor and co-founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure Greater Fort Worth, realized they could help other people. The idea was conceived in March of 2005 to build a comprehensive breast center at Baylor Andrews Hospital, with free breast cancer information and services open to all women and men. They named it the "Joan Katz Breast Center" and through this center, they have helped hundreds of people navigate their battle with breast cancer.

Dr. Johns is extremely dedicated to his work at the breast center, consulting with numerous individuals on a daily basis. He believes that cancer serves as a great equalizer and a great teacher, something he shares with his many patients who struggle with the same things he experienced. He works to do the best he can everyday and insists on having fun while doing it. Dr. Johns’ unique experience with breast cancer has made him the loving and dedicated man he is today and has given him the incredible opportunity to relate to his patients in a way that most doctors cannot.