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: 🌵Stop tolerating menopause discomfort. If dryness and painful sex feel like your new normal, it's not just aging—it's estrogen loss. Velvet V , created by hormone expert Karen Martel, is a clean, prescription-free vaginal moisturizer packed with estriol and DHEA to restore moisture, thicken tissue, and improve sensation. Experience real relief and more confidence in just weeks. No doctor visit required! Go to midlifesolutions.org and use code LOVELY for 10% off your first order. Because glowing skin and great sex shouldn't be optional in midlife. 🌱 Ready to level up your nutrition? Check out AG1 for nutritional insurance on busy days! Visit our partner page here , to discover the ultimate all-in-one nutritional supplement. Plus, our podcast subscribers score exclusive freebies! 💚 Dr. Fiona Lovely is a longevity, health and wellness expert with specialties in menopause medicine, functional neurology and functional medicine. She is speaking to the topics of women's health around perimenopause and menopause. How to work with Dr. Lovely: We get many requests for this info, so here it is! First off, thank you for listening to the NYMM podcast. It's because of your support, we can continue to dispense this information.❤️ Follow Dr. Lovely on IG and TikTok : @drfionalovely Follow the podcast on Facebook: Please sign up for our newsletter - Fiona's Friday Favourites! This is where we make the first announcements, share course offerings, drop new episodes, blog posts and the coveted 'Fiona's Favourites' column, etc. drlovely.com You can also find some great resources there! Finally, a humble request: If you love the podcast, please leave us a review! It helps more people find useful info for a challenging time: Please scroll to the bottom of the page to leave a review. Thank you! 💕🤗 Partnerships by Category3 Media Group

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Ep. 212 - An Ovarian Cancer Journey of Self Advocacy with NP Tammy O'Rourke is an episode from Not Your Mother's Menopause with Dr. Fiona Lovely by Dr. Fiona Lovely.

This episode is 01:27:13 long.

This episode was published on Mar 31, 2026.

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