Beckett shares breast cancer story to spread hope for women fighting it today
October 20, 2025, 10:06 am
Ashley Bochek
Jacqui Beckett of Moosomin has battled breast cancer and won. Twice. She is a retired school teacher and a caring community leader involved in art groups across the area.
“I am enjoying the next chapter of my life following my teaching career of 34 years,” she says. “I have lived in Moosomin most of my life and have always been thankful to live in this small town with a big heart,” she says. “My husband Garry and I have been married for 45 years and raised three daughters and now thoroughly enjoy our four grandchildren. Besides keeping up with the grandchildren I am busy making, teaching and learning about art in the genres of painting and pottery.”
Diagnosis at a young age
Beckett says she was shocked to be diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age.
“When I was 36 I felt a lump and I went to the doctor for a physical exam to see what this lump was. She reassured me that it was just a cyst and to not consume as much tea or chocolate. She assured me that it was nothing to worry about because I was too young to have breast cancer. When I returned to my regular doctor at age 37 for my yearly physical, he sent me for a mammogram almost immediately. I was diagnosed with breast cancer following a biopsy of the lump. No one in my family history had breast cancer, however a few years after I was diagnosed, my sister got breast cancer and a few years later her daughter was also diagnosed. They were both tested for the breast cancer genes and neither one of them had the genes.”
Beckett says she was shocked with the diagnosis and felt nervous for what the future held for her and her family.
“I was definitely surprised, devastated and terrified all at once. I kept thinking ‘how can this be happening?’ I thought I was too young. I felt betrayed by my own body. I took good care of myself. I never smoked. I was fairly fit and ate well. I kept thinking what I did wrong! I was angry because I felt I should have done something else to prevent it somehow. I was so sad because our three girls were at the ages of three, five and seven and we had tried for years to have a family and now they might lose their mom. It still brings up a lot of emotions even after all these years when I talk about it.”
Family motivation
She says her young daughters at the time were her motivation to fight the breast cancer. “So the fight began. Even though one of my oncologists told me that my cancer was aggressive and advanced, and I might live one to five years maximum, I just thought no that’s not happening. My daughters needing me was my main motivation to try to fight as hard as I possibly could. They needed me, but I needed them more.
“At that time, I had to choose to have a lumpectomy or a mastectomy and I chose the mastectomy and have never regretted it. In fact, I asked for a double mastectomy to alleviate some fears, but they didn’t do that at the time. I also had 16 lymph nodes removed and six of them had cancer as well. So that added another dimension to my fear. Once I was healed from that surgery, I started six months of chemotherapy.
“Also, at that time I had to choose how aggressive to go with the chemotherapy. I asked my doctor what he would do if it was his wife in the same situation and he said I would advise her to go as aggressive as she could tolerate. So, I did. And it was wicked. The treatments were once every 28 days as long as my white blood count was okay to continue. I lost my hair on the second treatment which was minor to me in the grand scheme of things.
“I cried, though, as I took my hair off by the handfuls and put it in a garbage bag. It’s weird seeing yourself bald, but I had a great wig.
“I became more and more sick as the treatments continued. The anti-nausea pills didn’t help me. Dr. Kirsch or Dr. Gordon would come to my house and get my IV started because I was too sick to be in the hospital. God bless them and the Home Care nurses who followed up and were so kind and helpful. I spent a lot of time in bed and over the toilet and honestly, I’ve blocked a lot of it out.”
She explains her treatment plan involved staying in Regina. “Once my chemo was finished, I started my radiation therapy in Regina at the Allan Blair Cancer Centre which involved a treatment every day for six weeks. I stayed at the Cancer Lodge across the street from the Pasqua Hospital and despite being away from my daughters, which was very difficult, it was a healing experience for me. My skin never burned. I was never nauseous. I did lots of painting and drawing. I was fed very well and gained back some of the 30 pounds I lost during chemo.
“I also gained a new perspective and appreciation for my life and for other people.
“I felt such gratitude for my doctors, nurses, technicians and all the healthcare workers who were involved in my healing. I felt a peaceful relief and a greater sense of love and purpose in my life.”
Grateful for friends and family
Beckett says family and friends helped look after her young daughters during her chemotherapy.
“Garry, along with members of both our families as well as many friends helped with the girls, with everyday chores and meals and for that I’ll be forever grateful.
“I prayed and prayed a lot, and I knew people prayed for me which was also a powerful part of my healing. It works. No doubt in my mind.”
Battling breast cancer twice
Beckett says she was diagnosed with breast cancer again years later.
“Twenty-nine years later I was blindsided by a second diagnosis of breast cancer. I had no clue. In March of 2023 my mammogram was clear as always for my yearly scan. It just so happened that I had been waiting a couple of years for an MRI breast scan which came up in November of 2023. I almost cancelled it thinking my mammogram in March was fine, however I had a feeling I should have the MRI anyway even though I never felt any lumps. Sure enough it was back. I was very surprised and worried because nothing was there in March and now there it was again. I must say I was more worried about the wait times I’d heard about for biopsies and surgery. When you have cancer, you just want it out now. I’m forever grateful for Dr. Kerkhoff and Octavia of the Moosomin Family Practice who did everything they could to get me in for a biopsy somewhere, which ended up being at the Breast Health Centre in Saskatoon.”
“I was very fortunate that they got the ball rolling so quickly and everything went smoothly,” said Beckett. ”I believe Dr. Kerkhoff’s and Octavia’s determination to find the help I needed urgently literally saved my life.
“The staff at the Saskatoon Breast Health Centre in City Hospital were exceptional as well. My biopsy revealed two tumors which were removed with my second mastectomy. Unlike my first go around with cancer, I was astonished, relieved, and very thankful to hear I did not need any further treatments!”
Spreading awareness and hope to all
Beckett says she feels by sharing her breast cancer story she can spread hope to other women fighting the life-threatening illness.
“Everyone’s story of their journey with cancer is different, however I think the feelings that come and go, and change are probably felt by most people.
It’s good to hear other people’s story to know you’re not alone and also that the outcome can be positive. When I was first diagnosed, lots of women came to me to talk about their experiences and how they survived 11 years, 15 years and so on. Their stories gave me hope which I needed badly at the time. Now more women are surviving breast cancer with more advanced medicine and personalized treatments and protocols. It’s not one size fits all anymore.
Some people say their battle with cancer was a blessing which I thought was strange, but now I understand.”
She says she learned lifelong lessons from fighting breast cancer.
“I learned that when the human body and mind work together you can heal yourself with determination and faith, great healthcare providers, love and support of friends, family and community.
‘I remember my radiologist spoke to me after I got my tiny tattoo dots used for markers for radiation treatments. He said to me that they as doctors do their very best and the rest is up to God. That meant a lot to me, and I added that we must do our best too. Sadly, I have also learned that breast cancer is occurring in younger women more often.”
Changed perspective
Beckett says battling cancer forever changed her perspective on life.
“Cancer absolutely changed my perspective on life. I can see why people say it’s a blessing because perhaps you realize that you’ve been going through your days routinely without really thinking about what’s truly fundamentally important. It’s not material things that are important. What became important to me were people—my family, my friends, all people and knowing there’s a higher power and believing in my own power. Above all it’s love. Sometimes over the years I’ve gone back to my old ways and my old thoughts, but something or someone happens to remind me what is important.”
She adds, “Breast Cancer Awareness should be on our minds every month. I can’t stress enough how important it is to do your breast self-exam every month no matter your gender. Please go to your doctor if you suspect anything because it won’t go away on its own. There are strides being made toward prevention and cures, but there’s still a long way to go before breast cancer is a thing of the past. It reminds us to do our part to take care of ourselves as best we can and to support others who are going through difficult times.”
