https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071HB2BY9/
A Walk With Purpose:
Memoir of a Bioentrepreneur
By Michael D. Becker
FORMER ONCOLOGY BIOTECH CEO BATTLING TERMINAL CANCER GIVES UNIQUE
INSIGHT IN NEW GRIPPING MEMOIR
“Nothing is as sobering or life-changing as those dreaded words, ‘you have cancer.’ This is a story of a
husband, father and bright entrepreneur whose very private struggle with a preventable cancer has been
made public with amazing clarity, insight and can’t put-the-book-down humanity.”
-James L Gulley, MD, PhD
With a prolific career in biotechnology, serving as CEO of two companies who worked in the
treatment and diagnosis of cancer, Michael Becker knew and understood cancer. It was his job. So, when
he was looking in the mirror at age 47 and saw a lump in his neck that wasn’t there the day before, he
knew something was wrong. After several tests and agonizing waiting periods for results, his worst fears
were confirmed – he had stage IV oropharyngeal (head and neck) cancer. While initial treatment
appeared successful, his cancer returned in December 2016 and he was given about a year to live.
What does someone do with a diagnosis like that? Everyone would react different. For Becker, he
became determined to share his story of adversity and daily triumph, which is all chronicled in his new
book, A Walk With Purpose: Memoir of a Bioentrepreneur. Part memoir, part fascinating look inside
the biotechnology industry, A Walk With Purpose takes readers down his career path from an investment
advisor to chief executive officer of an oncology-focused biotechnology company, to finally ending on
the other end of the industry: a terminal cancer patient facing his own mortality. This fast-moving,
fascinating and heart-wrenching memoir shows a personal account of all sides of the oncology biotech
industry: from CEO to patient.
Becker also spends his time educating others not just about cancer but about one thing in
particular: that his cancer was caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is preventable with
currently available vaccines. If Becker had access to them growing up, it is very likely he would have
never even gotten cancer at all.
“This vaccine simply didn’t exist when I was a teenager,” Becker says, “If it had, it would have
prevented my cancer.”
Becker has availability for book signings, interviews and commentary, and can discuss topics
including:
• The importance of the HPV vaccine from the unique perspective of someone whose life
could have been saved from it
• From oncology biotech CEO to terminal cancer patient: One man’s emotional journey
across the spectrum of boss to patient
• Tips for remaining positive no matter what challenge you are facing
• How to tell your children that you are sick
• Commentary on breaking developments in the biotech industry and cancer treatment
Michael Becker has more than 20-years of diverse experience as a serial entrepreneur, C-level
industry executive, communications expert, pharmaceutical developer, Wall Street securities
analyst, and registered financial advisor. He is the founder and president of MDB
Communications LLC, which provides a full range of investor relations, public relations, and
digital media services to the biotechnology industry.
Previously, he served as CEO of two biotechnology companies working in the treatment and
diagnosis of cancer, including New Jersey-based Cytogen Corporation. Widely quoted by the
press, he has published original articles on medical, financial, communications, marketing, and
regulatory topics relevant to the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device industries.
Becker currently lives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania with his wife and two daughters, but was
raised in the great city of Chicago and is a loyal Cubs baseball fan – which just goes to show that
he is an eternal optimist.
Find Michael Becker on Twitter at @Becker_MichaelD and www.awalkwithpurpose.com
A Walk With Purpose is available for order on Amazon and in select bookstores.
REVIEW COPIES OF A WALK WITH PURPOSE AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST