Johnston Breast Cancer Survivor Gives Back by Supporting Research Efforts

JOHNSTON, RI — Rebecca Broccoli made a popular New Year resolution last January. She started working out. A couple of weeks later, when she found a lump, she figured she probably pulled a muscle.

Broccoli had no reason to suspect the lump was cancer. She was taking care of herself. She had gone for her mammogram in August. The results were normal; but because she had "dense" tissue, she could take the extra step of going for an ultrasound.

She did take the extra step, and that test was also negative.

Plus, she had no family history of breast cancer.

All the same, in January, just after her 50th birthday, a doctor was telling her she had breast cancer.

It was not the way she wanted to celebrate turning 50 and not the way she wanted to start 2016.

But she went for treatment, and it turned out successfully. At the end of April, she was officially a breast cancer survivor.

"Believe me, it's not a club you want to join," she said.

But she was also grateful and she wanted to give back. As she did more research, she came to this conclusion, "we need to find a cure."

Broccoli became involved. She created a fundraising team to help with breast cancer research. Becca's Bunch, as of Sunday, had raised about $7,800. They went to businesses in Johnston, Smithfield and Scituate to sell raffle tickets. Some of the companies just wrote her a check. Almost $5,000 came from a comedy night.

A friend with "Funny 4 Funds" helped her out with that effort, she said. Mike Murray coached her through a boot camp in July and ultimately put on the show. Becca's Bunch sold 150 tickets, and they were ready with the comedy night in September.

Other people have raised more, she said, but it was good enough for fourth highest in the state.

"It's not the most," she said. But when she was asked to tell her story at the annual Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk, she agreed.

"How do I not do this?" she said.

So, Broccoli, who's the quiet person, found herself speaking to a crowd of 15,000 in Downtown Providence. She told them breast cancer "wasn't supposed to happen." But it did. And it could happen to anybody.

"Women have got to be their own advocates," she said.

Broccoli and husband Anthony have lived in Johnston 29 years. She's originally from Providence, she said. They settled on Johnston after they were married and found a house there.

"Well, no one in Rhode Island moves away very far," she quipped.

Courtesy Photos American Cancer Society

Caption 1: Rebecca Broccoli speaks at the Making Strides Against Cancer Walk.

Caption 2: Anthony Broccoli, Gov. Gina Raimondo, and Rebecca Broccoli