logo
episode-header-image
Aug 7
47m 39s

The Lesser Known Side Of Ovarian Cancer ...

BRITTANY HOCKLEY AND LAURA BYRNE
About this episode

Today we’re joined by Carly Findlay — she’s an award winning writer, speaker, and an appearance and disability advocate. Carly was born with a rare skin condition called ichthyosis which is  a rare genetic condition where the skin over produces dry, scaly, thickened skin and can be incredibly painful. Carly has spent much of her life navigating a world that hasn’t always made room for her differences. 

Carly has spoken widely about what it was like growing up, how she came to embrace the term “disabled” later in life, and the pressure to constantly explain or justify your body to other people and she has published two wonderful books titles ‘say hello’ and ‘Growing up disabled in Australia’

We also wanted to speak to Carly about a more recent challenge that she faced with her ovarian cancer diagnosis and what that has meant for her body now after going through early menopause and having a  hysterectomy. 

We spoke about:

  • What is was like growing up and having to face a lot of judgement and comments from strangers
  • Why Carly decided to become an advocate for disabled people
  • Laura being complacent with her ovarian cyst until Carly reached out and encouraged her to advocate for herself
  • The early signs Carly experienced of ovarian cancer
  • The confusing diagnosis
  • Being faced with having to have either a half or full hysterectomy 
  • Having the choice of children taken away
  • The additional things Carly had to navigate throughout treatment like chemo
  • The ridiculous trolling Carly received like saying that she was ‘faking’ a cancer diagnosis
  • The really practical ways you can support a loved one through a cancer diagnosis

 

You can find more from Carly’s website 

You can follow Carly on instagram 

 

You can watch us on Youtube

Find us on Instagram

Join us on tiktok

Or join the Facebook Discussion Group

Tell your mum, tell your dad, tell your dog, tell your friend and share the love because WE LOVE LOVE! Xx

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Yesterday
Could You Be A Revenge Addict Without Even Knowing It? Uncut with James Kimmel
Why do we want to hurt the people that hurt us?Over the years we have spoken about so many different aspects of relationships but today’s topic is one we have never fully unpacked before and it’s one of the most destructive forces in relationships: revenge. We don’t always call i ... Show More
54m 44s
Oct 7
Are Age Gaps Class Coded or Creepy? ChemRIZZtry, Curveball Crushing & Casting
Hey lifers!Poppy has popped out! She’s just the cutest! Next week we will have an episode with Laura about Poppy’s birth. Britt is always *rooting for long distance relationships. She’s been over to see Ben in Italy and been reminded that she found herself a bit of a chefing unic ... Show More
1 h
Oct 5
Ask Uncut - Ex-Husband’s Emails… And She’s STILL Reading Them 👀
Welcome back to ask uncut where we unpack your deep and burning questions! Britt has been in Italy and Laura has had a baby! If you found out the gender of your baby when you were pregnant, was it correct? Google AI says it’s wrong in Australia about 5% of the time. We’d love to ... Show More
46m 3s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 1
Life After Cancer Treatment: What You Should Know
When someone finishes a cancer treatment, it can feel like the end of the story. For many, it may just be the beginning–risk of recurrence looms, long-term medications (and their side effects) begin, and it’s hard to get your bearings. What do you really need to know?In this cand ... Show More
39m 37s
Aug 27
Will Cancer Ever Be Cured? An Oncologist Weighs In
What really causes cancer? Will we ever find a cure? And why does our mistrust of medicine and obsession with big pharma conspiracies have such a grip on the way we think about it? In this episode, Jonathan Van Ness sits down with oncologist Dr. Stacy Wentworth to explore the big ... Show More
53m 35s
Jan 2022
How stigma shaped modern medicine
In the 1940s, cancer was a condition shrouded in fear and denial, rarely discussed in public. Now there's a healthy public discourse and billions of dollars in research funding dedicated to it. In this talk, writer and microbiologist Dr. Nathalia Holt describes how a landmark 194 ... Show More
6m 30s
Jun 2025
Cynthia Nixon - ‘Being brave is feeling scared and doing it anyway’
Whilst Cynthia Nixon’s versatility is beyond question, it's fair to say that she has become permanently associated with one character, Miranda Hobbs, in Sex and the City and its companion piece, And Just Like That. She won an Emmy for her performance and a generation of fans who ... Show More
51m 44s
Apr 2025
Meloni meets Trump, Eczema, Girl choristers, Singledom
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni - the first woman to occupy that role - has faced one of her biggest international tests yet. She is the first European leader to go to Washington to meet President Trump since his recent announcement of new tariffs on the EU. So how did Melo ... Show More
57m 31s
May 2024
The Life of a Millennial Caregiver
When Jessica Guthrie became a caregiver at age 26, her life turned upside down. Her career, friendships, and love life went on the back burner as she prioritized caring for her mom, who has Alzheimer’s disease. Over nine years of caregiving, she’s faced burnout, medical racism, a ... Show More
37m 48s
Jan 2024
This Woman “Scamanda” Faked Cancer & Stole Over $400K From People: The Amanda Riley Story
Amanda Riley was an ordinary girl living in Northern California until she wasn't. She was a teenager when she was introduced to the Riley family and, within a matter of years, started a relationship with and got married to Cory Riley. Then, a few years into the marriage, Amanda s ... Show More
1 h
May 2025
Should I have children? Ellie Simmonds on genetic disability diagnoses
What beliefs, hopes, worries, and questions would you have if your unborn baby was given a diagnosis of a disability? It’s something retired paralympic swimmer Ellie Simmonds has spent a lot of time considering.In this chat with Fearne, Ellie explains what she’s learnt from talki ... Show More
52m 50s
Jul 2024
Trump. This Changes Everything.
Subscribe to Mamamia Former U.S. President Donald Trump has survived an attempted assassination over the weekend. We unpack today's biggest news story and what is to follow in the U.S. election.  Plus, it’s a woman’s world and we’re waving drills while wearing teeny-tiny bikinis ... Show More
53m 19s