Women’s Movement Radio - August 26 Episode with Fiona Finn

Fiona Finn was born in Ohio but raised in Ireland. A Southwest Florida resident for the last twenty years, she graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Business from the University of South Florida. A former elementary school teacher, she also has been a real estate agent and broker. She has published three other books - Barbie: A Parody (2011), Cartoons: A Parody (2012), Pennies from Heaven: You Make Money, Money Doesn’t Make You (2013). Five months into her long battle with stage III colon cancer, Fiona Finn’s husband left her on Father’s Day, leaving her and her three children penniless. Although that was one of the most painful days in her life, it spurred her to adopt a new mission in life. Now on a personal crusade, she is a leading advocate for women who are seven times more likely to get abandoned shortly after their diagnosis of cancer… According to The Cancer Journal (July 30, 2009), the divorce rate is approximately 21 percent for cancer-stricken wives, compared to 3 percent when husbands get ill. In an effort to get the word out on this disturbing information and help those affected by it, Fiona gives an insider’s account of how ‘in sickness and in health’ can be a lopsided vow in her new memoir, RAW: One Woman’s Journey Through Love, Loss, and Cancer (April 1, 2014). Believing that “no woman should ever be left behind on the cancer battlefield,” she calls RAW painfully revealing, stressing that it is no coincidence that RAW spells WAR backwards. Like war, the memories linger for cancer survivors long after the event has passed. And sadly, instead of trying to save their lives, some women cancer survivors desperately focus on trying to save their marriage. Fiona herself, like other survivors, cut short her treatment in an effort to focus her attention on getting her husband back. Hoping to save others from the sense of hopelessness that caused her to attempt suicide, she calls for women to be strong and courageous. As she has proven, you can survive, you can heal, and you can get better. In addition to keying in on her battle with cancer, her memoir tells her story about dealing with two decades of abusive relationships and how to triumph over adversity. Additionally, it is infused with humor because Fiona strongly believes that laughter brings wellness. She also included words of wisdom from such celebrities as Oprah Winfrey, Ellen DeGeneres, Whoopi Goldberg, Dr. Phil, and Conan O’Brien. “…The process of writing RAW was like skinning an onion, so much so I bled. Each layer of myself I peeled back...It took some time, but finally I realized that if RAW was to be really raw and uncut, then I would have to leave everything on the table…” Honored to be chosen as the 2014 cancer survivor to give a speech for The American Cancer Relay for Life events in her local Ft. Myers, Florida community, Fiona is one of nearly 14 million cancer survivors. Recognizing that knowledge is power, she is doing all she can to inspire as many as possible to move on and get back on a path of healing. Join Janét and Fiona as they discuss her life, her book and the courage to be a survivor and inspiration to all.