Victoria author and cancer warrior starts online fundraiser 'to give back'

Jean Paetkau is sick of wearing sweatpants—and all that comes with it.

The Victoria author has decided to revisit her love for vintage clothes while sharing her experience and support as a cancer survivor, and raising money to fight the horrible disease that changed her life 15 months ago.

Paetkau has started an online fundraiser to help ovarian cancer “warriors” in their battle against a disease that often goes undetected until it’s too late.

The Ovarian Cancer Fashionista Fundraiser went live Friday and, less than 48 hours later, had already received pledges for more than $2K.

“I don't know if my spirit could have survived without the support of the online cancer community," Paetkau tells Capital Daily. “So I need to use my good health to give back.”

It was just after she had completed the draft for her second murder mystery novel, The Sinking of Souls—which followed her widely successful breakout, Blood on the Breakwater—that Paetkau found out she had cancer.

“I had symptoms for six months, but it took a trip to the ER to get an immediate ovarian cancer diagnosis, says the mother of two. “My biopsy got bumped because my surgeon advocated for me.”

Ovarian cancer is notoriously difficult to detect because there is no effective screening test for the disease, and according to Ovarian Cancer Canada (OCC), symptoms can mimic other maladies.

Common symptoms include bloating, stomach discomfort, difficulty eating or feeling full quickly, and changes in urinary habits. Some sufferers experience changes to bowel habits, nausea, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, menstrual irregularities, back pain, indigestion, pain with intercourse, and bleeding after sex, the OCC said.

“You know best what’s normal for you and your body,” the OCC suggests.

Paetkau found support and strength from others

Through her health journey, Paetkau says she has discovered the strength, support, and love of people, even those she’s only met on her computer.

“The online cancer community on X [formerly known as Twitter] is profoundly loving and supportive,” she says.

“The prognosis for survival of Stage 3 ovarian cancer is not very hopeful,” she says, but following six rounds of chemotherapy—which she calls “horrific”—Paetkau is now eight months in remission.

She says going through cancer treatment left her with chronic fatigue and kept her at home and in sweatpants. Her experience taught her that cancer warriors can easily feel “invisible in society."

“I refuse to be quiet or invisible.”

As much as one can under such circumstances, Paetkau has done her best to embrace her situation—and she hopes her fashionista fashion show of a fundraiser draws attention and donations.

“This is a chance to raise funds and awareness about ovarian cancer in a playful way that also makes a cancer warrior more visible in the world.”

Fundraiser began Aug. 1 and runs until Aug. 31

From now until the end of August, every time $500 in donations comes in, Paetkau will post a selfie in a smashing outfit as she poses on the Breakwater.

“Since I have a wardrobe packed with beautiful dresses which do not match my life of fatigue, I want to put the collection to good use by motivating people to donate,” she says on the CCS donation page.

“Even $5 helps, as small donations add up to real change,” it says.

'Be noisy'

Paetkau says women should recognize the symptoms of ovarian cancer and share them with their doctors.

Her advice to anyone feeling there’s something physically wrong but they just can’t pinpoint it is straightforward.

“All I can say is, you know your own body; listen to it and don't take no for an answer,” she says.

“Be noisy. Or find someone who will be noisy for you.”

With the disappearance of the signs and symptoms of the cancer, Paetkau is returning the reach-outs that she received when she first struggled with the disease.

“I have people reach out to me in terror at early diagnosis. And I am honoured to be there for them,” she says.

Jean Paetkau loves her flowers. Photo: Jean Paetkau

New book in the works

Traditionally, an almost daily visitor to the Breakwater, where she would take photos of the sea and sky and dream up plotlines to take place nearby, Paetkau says the 760-metre seawall became an exhausting walk, so you’re now more likely to find her snapping shots of flowers at Government House.

She says her next book in her Breakwater mystery “thrilogy,” like her health, is coming along just fine, and she anticipates its release next spring.

Followers of her fictional characters, Helene, Alex, and the kids, will be interested to hear that the new novel takes place around the Gorge and in Esquimalt, including a 19th-century subplot.

“I think folks are going to love it," she says. "And I already have a photo for the cover that is as provocative as the image on Blood on the Breakwater."

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(Editor's note. Fundraising update: As of Aug. 7, $4,600+ had been raised in less than one week.)