Ep. 212 - An Ovarian Cancer Journey of Self Advocacy with NP Tammy O'Rourke

In this profoundly moving and eye-opening episode, Dr. Fiona Lovely welcomes back Dr. Tammy O'Rourke, a Nurse Practitioner with a PhD and a leading voice in hormone health. While their last conversation focused on advocating for patients, this time, Dr. O'Rourke shares a harrowing personal health journey that began with symptoms easily dismissed as menopausal—bloating, fatigue, and reflux. What followed was a terrifying navigation of a healthcare system that seemed designed to fail her, despite her own expertise.

Dr. O'Rourke details the delays, the dismissals, and the bureaucratic barriers that turned a treatable condition into a stage 3C ovarian cancer diagnosis. Listeners will hear how her intuition, combined with the unwavering advocacy of her husband, led her to seek care in the United States for a specialized CRS HIPEC surgery—a life-saving procedure not readily accessible in Canada. This episode is a powerful testament to the importance of self-advocacy, highlighting the specific risks for women with a history of endometriosis and fibroids. Dr. O'Rourke emphasizes the critical need for women to never give up control of their hormone health, to trust their gut, and to pursue second opinions, even when the system pushes back. It's a story of survival, systemic failure, and the urgent call for better care for all women.

In this episode, they talk about:

• The shocking reality of navigating a universal healthcare system during a cancer crisis

• How endometriosis and fibroids significantly increase the risk of ovarian cancer

• The crucial role of the CA-125 blood test and pelvic ultrasound in early detection

• The life-saving potential of CRS HIPEC surgery and why it's not widely available in Canada

Tune in to hear how one of the country's leading hormone experts had to fight for her own life, and learn the steps you can take to ensure you don't get left behind. To listen to my first interview with Tammy, listen here.

If you want to know more about Tammy, find her here:

Website | Instagram | Linkedin | YouTube | Facebook

Thank you to our sponsors for this episode:

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