When You’re Told It Might Be Cancer

When You Are Preparing To Lose Part Of Yourself

How do you prepare for a surgery that changes both your body and your future?  In this episode of One of Eight, Jill faces the reality of her diagnosis head-on. After learning she has stage zero breast cancer hidden within branching papillomas, she begins preparing for a bilateral mastectomy with immediate reconstruction. Before she can even fully prepare for surgery, a frightening complication from her lumpectomy sends her to the ER.  With surgery only days away, Jill is navigating major decisions around reconstruction, recovery, future treatments, and preparing for the biggest surgery of her life. At the same time, she’s reflecting on fear, body image, fertility, future plans, and the overwhelming realization that life now has a clear “before” and “after.” ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

When Peace Of Mind Doesn't Last

What if the thing meant to give you peace of mind…changes everything instead? In this episode of One of Eight, Jill prepares for surgery with cautious relief. After being told her biopsy results were benign, the plan feels straightforward: remove the problem area to stop the discharge and move on. But as the process unfolds, from seed placement to surgery and a difficult recovery, things don’t go as expected. Complications arise. Healing doesn’t go smoothly. And when pathology results from surgery come back earlier than planned, Jill is faced with a diagnosis she wasn’t prepared for . This episode marks a turning point. What was supposed to be the end of one chapter…becomes the beginning of something much bigger. Sources & Additional Information: Canadian Cancer Society Information on DCIS [https://cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-types/breast/what-is-breast-cancer/cancerous-tumours/ductal-carcinoma?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=alwaysonsearch2025&utm_content=ao-EN&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21882855554&gbraid=0AAAAAC8G2ibuHAG-6UK118iMzLTtgHBFj&gclid=CjwKCAjwhe3OBhABEiwA6392zNVo_fqice16mzE2m6Q2tUOr6_IJ5ovZt3Bm-zZX3UxY5wu6v-dJsxoCDrYQAvD_BwE] ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

When You’re Told It Might Be Cancer

What do you do when you’re told there’s a 50–95% chance it could be cancer… but no one can actually tell you what it is yet? In Episode 4 of One of Eight, Jill moves from uncertainty into something heavier. We follow Jill through her biopsy, a traumatic physical experience, and the mental toll of waiting for answers that still aren’t clear. After her MRI is flagged as highly suspicious, she’s left trying to understand her results on her own while preparing for the next step.  As the waiting continues, Jill reaches a breaking point. The anxiety she’s been pushing through is no longer manageable. For the first time, she asks for help and makes the choice to take control of her mental health before what comes next. This part of the story isn’t about answers. It’s about getting through the not knowing. Resources: BI-RADS classification system: https://www.cancercenter.com/cancer-types/breast-cancer/diagnosis-and-detection/mammography/results-bi-rads Core needle & vacuum-assisted biopsy: https://cancer.ca/en/treatments/tests-and-procedures/core-biopsy Follow One Of Eight on Instagram: @oneofeightpodcast [http://www.instagram.com/oneofeightpodcast] **The experiences shared in this podcast reflect personal journeys navigating healthcare, in Nova Scotia, and may not represent all systems or outcomes. This podcast is based on lived experience and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional about your own health. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

When Answers Start Getting Closer

What happens when the waiting suddenly starts moving faster? In Episode 3 of One of Eight, Jill finally meets with a surgeon and begins what she hopes will be the final steps toward answers. What she expects to be routine follow-ups quickly turns into something more serious. A breast MRI scheduled within days, new symptoms emerging, and the growing sense that something bigger may be unfolding. As Jill navigates the appointment at the IWK Breast Health Clinic and prepares for her first MRI, the uncertainty that defined the last episode starts to shift. Her intuition keeps whispering that something isn’t right. Her anxiety keeps spiraling through worst-case scenarios. And life continues moving around her as she tries to stay busy, host events, and keep the fear from taking over. This episode explores what it feels like when uncertainty starts to escalate: The strange feeling of tests suddenly moving faster. The tension between intuition and anxiety. The ways we keep functioning while quietly falling apart inside. And the moment when a late-night phone call changes the trajectory of everything. For Jill, the MRI results bring a new phrase into the conversation and with it, the realization that the next step will be a biopsy. Sometimes the scariest moment isn’t the diagnosis. It’s the moment you realize the story might be heading there. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

When Anxiety Becomes Your Motivator

What if something is wrong… but no one can tell you what it is? In Episode 2 of One of Eight, Jill enters the healthcare system and quickly learns that getting answers isn’t just about showing up. It’s about calling back. Following up. Asking again. Advocating harder. After being told she’s “too young,” Jill navigates referrals sent by fax, a missing appointment, weeks of silence, and the emotional toll of not knowing. When she finally walks into the IWK for diagnostic imaging, she undergoes an ultrasound and mammogram, only to leave with more questions than answers. This episode explores what it feels like to live inside uncertainty: The frustration of being dismissed. The exhaustion of self-advocacy. The anxiety that fuels follow-ups. And the quiet terror of imagining worst-case scenarios while still trying to host events, show up for friends, and live your life. It’s about learning that waiting is not passive. It’s work. And sometimes, the most important voice in the room has to be your own. Follow One Of Eight on Instagram: @oneofeightpodcast [http://www.instagram.com/oneofeightpodcast] Resources: https://cancer.ca/ [https://cancer.ca] https://www.densebreastscanada.ca [https://www.densebreastscanada.ca] https://iwkhealth.ca/ [The IWK Health Centre] About Mammograms - Canadian Cancer Society [https://cancer.ca/en/treatments/tests-and-procedures/mammography#:~:text=You%20will%20be%20asked%20to,the%20breast%20during%20diagnostic%20mammography] NS Breast Screening Program - Imaging Guidelines [https://nsbreastscreening.ca/program-information/imaging-guidelines] **The experiences shared in this podcast reflect personal journeys navigating healthcare, in Nova Scotia, and may not represent all systems or outcomes. This podcast is based on lived experience and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional about your own health. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.