BC Becky

Never Thought I’d Want to be a Breast Cancer Survivor

  • A rounded‑corner button with a beige background. On the left, a pink and yellow quill is dipped into a dark blue ink jar. A detailed dark blue and medium‑blue desk microphone sits beside it. A small pink heart appears above the quill. To the right, hand‑drawn dark blue text reads “Be a Patron of My Art.” The illustration has a soft, handcrafted indie style.

    A Favour – Because

    I’m launching a new podcast. This is a fully narrative podcast where I tell my story of breast cancer survivorship. The stories interweave chapters from my book with reflections on my second time around, and where I am the day I’m writing the script!

    Read more: A Favour – Because
  • A group of women sitting in a circle, some with head coverings indicating they are cancer survivors.

    Advocating for Oneself

    Living in the US, I learned to advocate for my own healthcare. Support groups helped me know what questions to ask. They helped me when I had odd symptoms and couldn’t reach my doctor. They helped me know what was normal and what needed urgent attention.

    Read more: Advocating for Oneself
  • Never Know i wanted to be a breast cancer survivor book cover and Available in eBook and Print on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.

    Free eBook for 2 days

    The eBook version of my book Never knew I wanted to be a breast cancer survivor, will be free to download on Amazon today (Thursday) and tomorrow (Friday). Also, if you are Kindle Unlimited, you can read it anytime for free. If you read it, I ask that you please, please, pretty please, leave an…

    Read more: Free eBook for 2 days
  • pink string forming a pink ribbon and then unwinding to blurriness

    I was certain

    When you are certain When you are certain, your emotions run high. When you are certain, you can easily be triggered. When you are certain, you can be wrong. I was certain.

    Read more: I was certain
  • A selfie of Becky with her van and a standup paddle board in the background

    Standing Up

    I have a knot in my stomach. I’m scared. I feel like an impostor. Will the water be too cold? Can I get back on the board in deep water? These thoughts are running through my mind as I prepare to leave. 

    Read more: Standing Up
  • Doctors performing abdominoplasty surgery in the hospital. Focus on male plastic surgeon doing abdominal plastic surgery in operating room. Concept of tummy tuck and cosmetic surgery

    More Than Cosmetic

    Me: Since my swelling is mostly in the areas where I had liposuction, I think a referral to a plastic surgeon would be a good next step. Dr.: You’ll need to go to a private clinic for that. Me: No, sorry, the liposuction was part of my breast reconstruction surgery. This might be a long-term…

    Read more: More Than Cosmetic
  • A moody, dramatic image of a set of silver spoons arranged on a dark wooden table, with one spoon missing from the sequence. A soft spotlight highlights the empty space, emphasizing the concept of limited energy. The blurred background adds depth, reinforcing the metaphor of the Spoon Theory, which represents chronic illness and energy depletion.

    Words Matter

    Words matter. Certain words sting, and one of them is “prevention.” Why? Because “prevention” suggests we know the cause of something and have the power to stop it. For me, that word lands heavy, almost accusatory. It’s like an unspoken judgment: You didn’t prevent this, so maybe you’re to blame.

    Read more: Words Matter

  • The end of breast self-exams

    This is a story written base on reflections my initial year after diagnosis (2016), with added comments about what I’m thinking after my second diagnosis (2024). The feature image is from Wikimedia Commons. Like my stories? Please subscribe.

    Read more: The end of breast self-exams

  • Avoiding Scanxiety

    I am working on a new memoir related to my cancer experience. As I create, I had been sharing stories over on substack, but I have decide to close my substack blog and move my stories back over here. In addition to writing about my ongoing survivorship experiences, I will be sharing stories that are…

    Read more: Avoiding Scanxiety

  • Letrozole – so far so good

    Back in October, when my oncologist and I agreed I was done with Herceptin, we decided I wouldn’t do anything but let my body heal until January. That’s when I’d give Letrozole a try. Stopping Herceptin felt like a relief. For the longest time, I couldn’t distinguish which symptoms were caused by chemo, radiation, COVID,…

    Read more: Letrozole – so far so good
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