Overlooked: Women's Health Can't Wait

It took my awhile to listen because of the haunting memories of my mother with this illness and having vague symptoms and the diagnosis was stage 4. It’s been 31 years since she passed and it’s good to know that there is more research and that there are woman that have survived. Thanks to you and your mom sharing your story.

Women’s health and how it’s so overlooked and under studied is a topic I am very passionate about. So I was very excited for this podcast, but ended up disappointed by the serious lack of fact checking. I listened to three episodes and, in all three, incorrect/incomplete information was shared. Examples vary from something as simple as saying 3 liters of water is equivalent to 16 cups (it’s 12) to sharing incorrect information about sumatriptan. I know the guests are not in the scientific field but, as a journalist, the host should fact check what is being shared (a lot of the guests are journalists too). In addition, the show would be enriched by a combination of interviews and some scientific data. After all, science doesn’t progress on anecdotes. Saying X is way less diagnosed in women than men and making assumptions as to why it happens doesn’t help anyone. To understand the extent of the problem, one needs a bigger scope than one individual’s story.

Powerful heartfelt storytelling. Thank you for making this.

Thank you for this. I am in Ontario and my sister died of ovarian cancer, at the age of 28, in 2006. It is referred to as “the cancer that whispers” because by the time most women find out they have it, it’s quite advanced and often too late. I am sad to hear that your mother’s story is so similar to my sister’s with the misdiagnosis and time wasted figuring stuff out. We must be aware of the symptoms and be LOUD to have our voices heard when something feels not quite right. I am happy to hear your mom’s voice and her story. I am happy you are with her for this journey.