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Becky recalls the shock of her first breast cancer diagnosis in 2014, the agony of telling her mother over video chat, and the identity crisis she was already facing as her academic path unraveled and her move to California left her questioning who she wanted to be. As she waited for biopsy results, she wrestled with fear, denial, and the impossible question of what she should hope for. Nearly a decade later, when cancer returned in 2023, she faced the uncertainty with less panic but deeper awareness—this time without her mother, and with the terrifying possibility of metastatic disease. While waiting for answers, she grounded herself in painting her soon‑to‑be home and staying busy with her community project, using distraction to keep worst‑case scenarios at bay. The emotional strain built until she finally learned her bone scan was clear, and the overwhelming relief revealed just how much fear she had been carrying.

https://bcbecky.com/podcast/
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After a long bike ride, celebrating the unpacking of the very last box, I step into the shower in my new home in Santa Clara, California. After a year of back-and-forth, I’m finally living with my husband again. It’s been a long year, and I’m so happy to be home.

And then I feel it — a hard spot on my left pec.

It must be a muscle strain… only it doesn’t hurt, which is odd.

Each day after my shower, I check again.

Still there.

On June 9, 2014, I walk into my doctor’s office saying, “It’s probably nothing, but…”

Hi, I'm Rebecca Hogue, I'm the author of the BC Becky blog and the book Never Knew I wanted to be a breast cancer survivor and this is my new podcast, which shares the name with my blog and book - because "I never knew I wanted to be a breast cancer survivor, but the alternative doesn't look so grand".

“Never Knew I Wanted to Be a Breast Cancer Survivor”, is a candid, story‑driven podcast where I share my experience of navigating a life‑changing diagnosis while searching for who I was, who I was becoming, and who am I today.

Three weeks after moving to California in 2014—and with no family history or warning signs—I found myself thrown into the American healthcare system as a Canadian, a PhD student with a project going no where, as I wrestled with my identity. This show is where I unpack those moments: the fear, the absurdity, the learning curves, and the unexpected clarity that comes from being pushed far beyond what you think you can handle.

In 2023 I was diagnosed with regional recurrence of breast cancer, this time while living in a small town in Nova Scotia Canada. My experiences could not be more different from my initial diagnosis, and yet, I felt like I was in the right place at the right time.

As I tell my story, I share how I actively developed my own health literacy—and invite listeners to grow theirs. Each episode explores not just what happened, but what I learned about the medical system, patient advocacy, and making sense of the waterfall of information I was receiving. Whether you’re a patient, a caregiver, or simply someone who loves real life stories, this podcast offers insight, honesty, and sometimes humour in the absurdity that is breast cancer treatment and its aftermath.