Over the course of her 17-year professional soccer playing career, Jen Beattie has been on her fair share of championship-winning teams.
While the 33-year-old Bay FC defender is still going strong on the pitch, she’s championing another cause: breast cancer awareness.
Beattie, who was 29 when she was diagnosed with Stage 1 breast cancer, shared her story with cancer patients and survivors—in partnership with nonprofit Pink Ribbon Good (PRG)—on July 16 at Vasona Lake County Park.
Beattie answered questions for 20 minutes before walking a mile with members from PRG’s Bay Area chapter, which offers services to those battling breast and gynecological cancers.
Beattie’s experience with the disease–which she successfully overcame in December 2020–has ignited a passion to discuss the importance of early detection.
“I knew absolutely nothing of what I was getting into,” she said. “And that’s what makes events like this more important for me, because I think there are so many people in my shoes that were in the exact same experience and knew nothing. It’s beyond scary.”
Beattie said “normalizing” the conversation empowers those living with cancer to persevere.
“No one is really talking about the difficult stuff, and that’s what made me find the importance of getting out and talking to people,” said Beattie, who is scheduled to be the keynote speaker at PRG’s Aug. 17 fundraising gala.
Beattie’s cancer diagnosis in October 2020 was made all the more difficult as it came during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“I didn’t have my family, I didn’t have my (friends),” she said. “My football community kind of became everything. Going to work, being able to be around people for that amount of time, helped a lot. I can’t emphasize enough that being a part of a community was super huge for me—especially in the middle of Covid, when I couldn’t meet friends regularly or I couldn’t go out.”
After her diagnosis, Beattie underwent two straight weeks of radiation therapy. In December, she was declared in remission. For the most part, Beattie was still able to train and play during her treatment and recovery process, which proved key in maintaining a positive mindset.
“When I was playing or exercising, I wasn’t thinking about cancer, I wasn’t thinking about treatment,” she said. “It was my one minute where my mental health was the most important thing in how to keep my mind straight.”
Beattie’s most difficult times were on the days when that wasn’t possible. Thankfully, her teammates, friends and family were there for her—without fail—with emotional pick-me-ups, just when she needed it most.
“The hardest part I ever felt was when I couldn’t play soccer,” she said. “What got me through it was being around people. My family, they were soldiers. They were my support network, they were amazing. I could talk to them at any point. I’m beyond grateful for them.”
In 2021, Beattie was honored with the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Helen Rollason Award, for outstanding achievement in the face of adversity. Beattie’s decorated playing career has included two separate stints at renowned club Arsenal.
Born and raised in Glasgow, Beattie amassed 142 caps for Scotland before retiring from international competition in January 2022. She left Arsenal and joined Bay FC in February. Although it was tough for her to go across the pond, Beattie relished the opportunity to be a part of something historic.
Bay FC, which plays its home games at PayPal Park, is an expansion club in the National Women’s Soccer League. The club was co-founded by four U.S. women’s soccer legends–Brandi Chastain, Aly Wagner, Danielle Slaton and Leslie Osbourne–and received financial backing from global investment firm Sixth Street.
Bay FC is currently 6-10-0 and in eighth place in the 14-team NWSL standings. Beattie has had an almost seamless transition from the UK to the Bay Area.
“I’m loving it,” she said. “I think it was a huge culture change, huge life change, going from the big city in London to California.
It’s a totally different, much “slower,” lifestyle, she says.
“It’s awesome,” Beattie said. “I played in England and Europe for the majority of my career, and to be offered a move out here–I’m 33 years old–it just felt like the right time and an unbelievable experience I really couldn’t say no to.”
Already known for her physical play, skillful headers and rock-solid defense, Beattie has now become quite an advocate for early detection of breast cancer. Cheerful, well-spoken and engaging, Beattie blended right in with the cancer patients and survivors during the Los Gatos walk.
Beattie encouraged everyone to exercise, embrace each day, hold tight to personal relationships and take time to work on their mental health. Beattie’s mindset in dealing with cancer was summed up in a Players’ Tribune article.
“This is really about how you deal with setbacks and the tougher moments,” she said. “I have learned a lot about that over my career–and I’m pretty sure that if I hadn’t, well, then I wouldn’t have had a career at all.”
