Taking risks after cancer isn’t about proving anything to anyone. It’s about choosing the life you want, without the weight of fear dictating your decisions. It’s about recognizing that while you didn’t get a choice in having cancer, you do get a choice in how you live beyond it.

For a young woman diagnosed with breast cancer and navigating PTSD, embracing risk—whether big or small—can be a crucial part of healing. It’s not about being reckless for the sake of it. It’s about taking control of your story and saying, “I’m still here, and I’m going to make the most of it.”

I recently had the incredible opportunity to appear on the new show Flawed, hosted by the amazing Spencer Barbosa and produced by MAKERS. My episode airs April 24th on Bell Fibe TV and the Fibe TV App, and I can’t wait for you to see it!

The show is all about celebrating the things we’re told to hide, the parts of ourselves that don’t always fit the mold — and in my case, that meant sharing my story of choosing aesthetic flat closure after breast cancer. Society often tells breast cancer survivors that reconstructive surgery is the “natural next step,” the expected path to reclaiming an "acceptable silhouette." But what if that version of “recovery” doesn’t feel right?

Breast cancer awareness isn’t just for October; it’s a conversation that needs to happen all year long. The "Know More" campaign with Breast Cancer Canada is a step toward making that happen, and I’m honored to be part of it.

My name is Beth. I am a 34 year old mother of 3, Olivia (16), Jack (9), and Charlee (2), and am currently engaged to the most supportive man on the planet, Matt. We live in Cambridge, after moving from Oakville the spring after Charlee was born. Moving got us closer to our friend group and we were incredibly grateful for that decision (and support network) once I was diagnosed. ⁠

Thrilled to have joined Ben O'Hara-Byrne on A Little More Conversation through Global News Corus Entertainment radio stations to tell my story and highlight our Not Too Young Photo Essay Campaign for Dense Breasts Canada

One year later and this boob is still trying to kill me! It’s been almost exactly a year since I was diagnosed. I’ve been cancer free since my scans in February. It’s amazing to me how I can go from celebrating beating this, to being reminded so harshly that it’s not quite over.

I’ve now completed 15/28 radiation treatments. I spend every afternoon topless on a table while they microwave my tits, but the people are lovely, the hospital is super understanding and I am genuinely grateful that I can reduce my chances of dealing with this shit again by a whopping 30%.

When people comment on how well I’m handling this, and why it seems easy, the answer is really simple.

This life I live now, with my partner, and my children, EVEN WITH CANCER, is still infinitely better than my life ever was before.

Finally! There is NO EVIDENCE OF DISEASE! Man, that was freaking exciting!

The beautiful thing though is that I’m not scared of losing my identity in the operating room. They aren’t cutting out my personality, or amputating the joy I have for life. They really are JUST boobs when you get right down to it, and I’m really damn proud of the work it took to see them that way.

Hi, my name is Beth, and I wear alot of hats. Mother, Partner, Friend, Sister, Daughter, Graphic Designer, Marketing Professional, Producer of Moms Unleashed and now I’m adding breast cancer patient to the list.

After working with my oncology team at Juravinski Cancer Center in Hamilton, ON, we have settled on a plan of 8 cycles of chemotherapy, followed by a double mastectomy and 12 rounds of Herceptin.