Going through a breakup when you’re healthy is hard enough — going through one while you’re already battling cancer is an incredibly difficult challenge. But ovarian cancer survivor Tara Lessard says the experience has taught her a great deal about compassion.
Tara and her partner of five years broke up while Tara was going through treatment for advanced ovarian cancer. She says that during the cancer journey, her ex began to see her as a patient instead of a partner — and that made the relationship too difficult to continue. “Any person who’s experienced a breakup, having later stage cancer, I understand it,” Tara says. “It’s a challenge, and it’s hard. I get it.”
Read MoreTara says that the whole experience, the breakup and watching her mom take over the caregiver role, showed her just how much pressure is put onto people who act as caregivers. Now, she advocates for people like her mother to make sure they’re receiving the support they need in the challenging, but incredibly critical role.
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