• Testimonials

    What people say about Joana

  • "She has the ability to take you on her journey from detection, through treatment, to survival. She is definitely a force. When she speaks about her fight, people listen."

    - Craig Burns

    Vice President of the Kiwanis Club

    Thousand Oaks

    "She connected with our members with kindness and enthusiasm,

    offering a valuable skill for their toolboxes."

    - Shannon La Cava, PsyD

    Director of Program & Research, Cancer Support Community Los Angeles

    "Joana is able to relay her powerful message in a captivating way,

    in a manner that leaves her audience empowered to create a paradigm shift in life,

    altering perspective and living on a daily basis with faith and hope."

    - Rabbi Ari Herzog

    Chabad of Encino

    "Strength is something achieved, and we had experienced a presentation at our club by Joana Breckner, who showed us the power of mind and body to overcome the most impossible circumstances."

    - Jeff Blum

    President, Rotary Club of Conejo Valley

  • "Joana Breckner provided our Soroptimist Club with an uplifting, brave and honest view into her journey of multiple cancer recoveries. She is a true survivor who exhibits qualities of strength and hope. Joana is a role model for all women who are forced to overcome obstacles that were not planned during their journey. We were honored to have her speak to us that day."

     

    Amy Corneau

    President

    Soroptimist International of Simi Valley

    "Joana Breckner’s Mind-Mapping program was a gift to our Community. She connected with our members with kindness and enthusiasm, offering a valuable skill for their toolboxes. I am happy to have her return for additional educational programs."

     

    Shannon La Cava, PsyD

    Chief Clinical Officer

    Director of Program & Research

    Cancer Support Community

    Los Angeles

    We recently had the privilege of hosting Joana Breckner at Montana Dental Association’s First District meeting. She delivered a lecture called “Discovering Your Power” to our members, detailing her victories and challenges in being a 3-time oral cancer survivor. The discussion was well-received, and we all appreciated her bravery in relaying this difficult experience to providers like ourselves. It was very unique in the manner that she was able to articulate what tools were effective in her overcoming her circumstances. We were truly thankful and inspired! Highly recommend!
     

    "Strength is something achieved, and we had experienced a presentation at our club by Joana Breckner, who showed us the power of mind and body to overcome the most impossible circumstances.

     

    Joana’s presentation was enlightening and encouraging to me and my club members."

     

    Jeff Ashe

    MDA – Montana Dental Association

    First District Vice President

     

    "Joana Breckner was one of the presenters at a Ted Talks event our community held in 2017. Joana was extremely inspiring and had such an uplifting message. You could hear a pin drop while she spoke. Her words radiated with hope and faith, as she spoke of dealing and coping during painful and difficult times during one’s life.

     

    Joana has an oratory gift. She is articulate, clear and eloquent, and sprinkles her talks with humor and wit. Joana is able to relay her powerful message in a captivating way, in a manner that leaves her audience empowered to create a paradigm shift in life, altering perspective and living on a daily basis with faith and hope."

     

    Rabbi Ari Herzog

    Chabad of Encino

  • "Joana Breckner is a speaker that you need to hear! I was deeply moved by her inspirational story of surviving multiple bouts of throat cancer, and how she found renewed power and energy in controlling various elements of her environment. I believe she survived because she fought!

     

    When we are struck down or put under pressure by the harsh realities of life, we have two choices; to give up or to fight. I'm certain that after you hear Joana speak, you find the power to fight! I wholeheartedly endorse Joana Breckner as a speaker that needs to be heard, sooner rather than later."

     

    Steve Hoppel

    Owner, Kelsey Financial, LLC

    President, Kiwanis Club of Moorpark

    Son of a cancer fighter, Bonnie Gayle 1951 – 2012

    "Joana Breckner and her partner are inspirational to cancer patients! As cancer survivors, they easily relate to others going through cancer treatment. In presenting Mind Mapping in Challenging Times, they are knowledgeable, energetic, humorous and compassionate. They present a unique and creative tool of problem solving in many areas of a patient’s cancer journey. Anyone who hears their presentation will truly be motivated!"

     

    Nida Padilla

    Program Manager

    Cancer Support Community

    Redondo Beach

     

    "Joana Breckner recently spoke to our Kiwanis Club on “Discovering Your Power in Challenging Times.” She delivered an inspiring message of courage and optimism.

     

    Joana’s use of lessons drawn from her personal experience resonated with the audience. At the conclusion of her speech, she was given a well-deserved (and very rare) standing ovation by the entire audience. We are indeed grateful for her outstanding message and example."

     

    Dennis Fors

    Vice President-Programs

    La Canada Kiwanis Club

    "I heard about Joana from a fellow Soroptimist member. I talked to her on the phone and she explained her presentation. Since I had not heard Joana’s message I asked for more information and she offered to send me an email description of her subject “DISCOVER YOUR POWER IN CHALLENGING TIMES”. After reading through the material she sent me I thought it would be an interesting message and we scheduled her to talk for January 15, 2019.

     

    I am so glad she came to speak to us. While she was very open about some of the things she had to go through to get past having cancer three times, she gave us some very uplifting viewpoints that everyone can think about when facing their own life challenges. Included in her story were also humorous moments that she was able to include in such a serious subject.

     

    I know our members and guests were touched and uplifted by Joana sharing her story with us. I would recommend Joana as a motivational speaker."

     

    Sherry Love

    Program Chair

    Soroptimist International of the Conejo

  • "Joana Breckner was the guest speaker at our women's group at Chabad of Encino, where she addressed "Counting our blessings in tough times." Drawing from her heart wrenching experience through surviving oral cancer, Joana's painful yet miraculous story left the audience deeply moved and inspired. There was not a dry eye in the room as Joana took us on an emotional rollercoaster with her, and did so with sensitivity, humility, raw honesty, humor and grace.

     

    While Joana's journey was far from easy, she has committed herself to sharing her story by educating others to take preventative measures in detecting oral cancer, as well as leaving her audience with a clear message of hope and faith to get through challenges of all types. Joana is a true inspiration, and by sharing her life experience, she changes the lives of all who are lucky to hear her message of perseverance and hope."

     

    Rebbetzin Chana Herzog

    Chabad of Encino

    "As Vice President of the Kiwanis Club of Thousand Oaks, CA, I am responsible for scheduling weekly programs that will be interesting, informative and inspiring to our members. In February, 2019, we were fortunate to have Joana Breckner as our speaker. I was first impressed by her outgoing personality and friendliness but, when she spoke to our group, she became a fierce advocate for the detection and prevention of oral cancer.

     

    She is a survivor of oral cancer and is dedicated to telling her story. She has the ability to take you on her journey from detection, through treatment, to survival. She is definitely a force. When she speaks about her fight, people listen. She is open and honest about what she has been through and people relate to her survivor attitude.

     

    Joana's story held our interest and opened our minds to a deadly and much overlooked form of cancer. We all definitely went away from that meeting more aware and enlightened."

     

    Craig Burns

    Vice President of the Kiwanis Club

    Thousand Oaks

  • Joana shares her story in a way that enables you to think about the possibilities you have to find you own power within your unique situation. I was wowed by her presentation, courage, strength and her ability to articulate her experience so eloquently!

     

    Chana Heller - Director

    Jewish Women’s Initiate

    Aish Los Angeles

    September 23, 2020

    Joana spoke for our local dental society. She has a passion for helping others develop internal strength. Her story and experience is moving and powerful.

    Dr. Matt Klinker,

    4th District

    Dental Society of Montana

    "Joana Breckner exudes a passion and zest for life that empowers! As I listened to one of the most inspirational and bravest people that I've ever met tell her story about finding her personal power in battling oral cancer, I was reflecting on a concerning incident that had just occurred with me the day before.

     

    Although I'm a pretty positive person, I had a situation that I needed to deal that was weighing heavily on my mind and as I sat there listening to Joana, I reassured myself "I've got this!" Later on as Joana spoke, she mentioned using this same exact mantra as well as others! Joana shared her Discover Your Power toolkit and the work that she is doing to support others during challenging times. This toolkit is a great benefit to physical, emotional and spiritual health! As a career Health Science Educator, I highly recommend inviting Joana to support you or your group members in discovering their power to face challenges for better health!"

     

    Jamie Armin
    President

    Ruach Hadassah, San Fernando Valley

  • Joana shares her story in a way that enables you to think about the possibilities you have to find you own power within your unique situation. I was wowed by her presentation, courage, strength and her ability to articulate her experience so eloquently!

     

    Chana Heller - Director

    Jewish Women’s Initiate

    Aish Los Angeles

    September 23, 2020

    "Joana Breckner exudes a passion and zest for life that empowers! As

    Joana Breckner has a tale to tell. Her experience with oral cancer, from diagnosis to treatment to survival and the aftermath, is compelling and eye-opening for dental professionals and patients alike.

     

    I had the wonderful experience of working directly with Joana for a special webinar event during Oral Cancer Awareness month. She did an amazing job recording her story on video, which we used to enlighten our members and to educate them on the importance of screening all patients and also treating patients who have been through this debilitating disease. Her presentation was factual, emotional and captivating.

     

    I highly recommend Joana for any oral cancer awareness events you may be planning. She was so very gracious to work with and was able to adjust to meet the needs of the overall event content.

     

     

     

    Karen Hoffman
    Manager, L&D, Education & Events

    California Dental Association

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