About Becky

In 1996, at age 43, Becky went back to school at Marylhurst University, while working a full-time job. Three months later she was diagnosed with advanced stage breast cancer. It was a really tough time to get such a diagnosis. Her kids were young, her career was at its peak, and she finally realized her dream of returning to school to earn a degree in Communications. Her doctors gave her a 60% chance to survive past five years. She often jokes that she is so thankful they were wrong because it took her SEVEN years to graduate.

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In 2000, while working full-time, Becky co-founded Breast Friends, an Oregon based organization dedicated to helping women survive the trauma of cancer. She continued to work full-time and spent her free-time supporting patients and building support for Breast Friends.  

In June of 2005, one year after her second breast cancer diagnosis, she left her job as a sales manager and was finally able to focus full-time on Breast Friends, and her speaking career.

Over the years, Becky has provided support to hundreds of patients through her work at Breast Friends. Through listening to their stories, as well as through her own personal experiences, she has gained the knowledge of the importance we ALL share in assisting those we care about. It’s not only the friends and family who can provide support, but anyone who works with cancer patients. Becky believes it is up to all of us to understand, and perhaps even feel the fear that cancer patients feel, and through her descriptive stories you will learn ways to assist in a productive and helpful manner.

Becky began speaking in 2001, and has become known as the Breast Cancer Survival Expert. As a professional, inspirational keynote speaker and author, she has shared her message with thousands of women around the country. She is a frequent speaker at Komen Survivor Celebration luncheons and medical conferences for health care professionals. She is also a sought after speaker for Women’s Conferences, especially in the area of empowerment.  Her use of humor and story-telling keeps the audiences engaged and laughing. Through her keynote presentations, she helps your audience discover their passion, uncover their gifts and begin to create the legacy they all deserve.

Becky is now a five-time breast cancer survivor, this time stage 4, with metastasis to her liver, lungs and bones. 

She has been married for over 40 years. She and her husband, Bill, have five children and five grandchildren. They reside in Portland, OR with their dog, Swayze.

Becky’s favorite hobby is performing with an 18 piece swing orchestra, and she has developed a new love of painting in her art studio called, “Heaven Can Wait.”