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Podcast Episode 9 – Ovarian Cancer Awareness (With Emilie Chiasson)
I lost my sister Amanda to ovarian cancer on October 10, 2020. She fought her battle publicly to bring attention to this horrible disease. It is my mission to continue to bring awareness and help save lives. Joining me in this episode is Emilie Chiasson from Ovarian Cancer Canada. Listen to the episode here or use the links below to listen in your favourite podcast player.
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My Sister, the Ovarian Cancer Warrior
At the most difficult time in her life, Amanda tapped into an inner strength that we all now know as #Amandastrong. She publicly shared her journey with the world, touching the lives of thousands of people, in hopes to advocate for women like her who were diagnosed too late. Amanda wanted every woman to know there is no screening method for Ovarian cancer like there is for breast or even cervical cancer. Because of this, and because the symptoms can be vague, ovarian cancer is often referred to as the silent killer.
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Silver Linings of Grief
In her final weeks of life, my sister and I spoke very candidly about how life has unfolded and the reality of her situation. I held her hand as she expressed fears of leaving her children. We laughed as we reminisced about memories only sisters would share. One thing that moved us both to tears was talking about how close our broken family had become during this crisis. This got me thinking about many of the silver linings that have surfaced over the course of her illness. Two years ago, we got the devastating news: at the age of 37, Amanda was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer. We were…
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Some Days are Shitty and That’s Okay!
In today’s society, the power of positivity is all the rage. Social media is filled with people who appear to have it all. I am here to tell you underneath those smiles there is sometimes pain. What people rarely talk about are the bad days. Unfortunately we all have them, some of us more than others. And guess what? You are entitled to have bad days! These bad days teach us resilience and coping mechanisms. Yesterday was one of those days for me. I had an appointment with a gynaecologist/oncologist to discuss the removal of my ovaries because my sister has ovarian cancer. I didn’t realize how this discussion was…
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Your Soul Searching Must Do List
For the past five years, I have been on a mission to fill my soul with people, places and things that make me the happiest version of myself. I have made some major life changes that have contributed to my cup being filled, so to speak. I walked away from an unhappy marriage, cut ties with toxic people in my life, and started pursuing my passion of creating Work and Play With Jamie Joyce. Recent events in my personal life have now more than ever made the saying “life’s too short” become my motto. My sister, who is my very best friend, was diagnosed with terminal stage IV ovarian cancer.…
