Body positive model and ovarian cancer advocate Ashley Luther, better known as “Elly Mayday,” lost her battle with ovarian cancer on Friday. She was just 30 years old.
Her family announced her passing on Mayday. On Mayday’s official fanpage page, which has nearly 500,000 followers, they wrote: “She dreamed of making an impact on people’s lives. She achieved this through the creation of Elly Mayday which allowed her to connect with all of you.”
Ashley was diagnosed with stage 3 ovarian cancer in 2013, after suffering symptoms including lower-back and stomach pain, bloating and constant fatigue. Instead of keeping her struggle quiet, the Canadian model became an outspoken advocate.“When people tell you in lab coats — that are trained for this — that there’s nothing they can do, that they don’t know what’s going on, we need to educate everyone,” Mayday told the ReginaLeader-Post in March 2016.
She proudly posted candid shots of her treatment on Instagram throughout her ordeal, including when she lost her hair to chemotherapy. “My beauty doesn’t come from my hair, no, my beauty comes from within,” she wrote. “I’m excited to have another opportunity to show women that bald is beautiful. It’s something I’ve learned and my experience is what I share with all of you.”
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* sorry had to delete and repost* Let’s chat about the hair for a moment, shall we? I actually wasn’t suppose to lose my hair from the type of chemo I was given. There was a slight chance but it was a reassuring thing when told what mixture I’d be on. After 2 weeks I started to notice it come out in my brush. I thought, ah its cause I’m sitting in one spot, I’m not brushing it much, yada yada… Then it really wouldn’t stop. It was annoying, I was tying it up and it would come out with the tie. So I just got rid of it. I’m not upset. I am excited to see how it comes back. I’m also happy to have this second opportunity to show women they can beautiful without hair. All that beauty we hold in our heart comes out through in our eyes, our smiles, the glow of our skin and the way we speak. Our beauty comes out if we accept the changes we must face and allow ourselves to just embrace our differences. My beauty doesn’t come from my hair, no, my beauty comes from within. I’m excited to have another opportunity to show women that bald is beautiful. It’s something I’ve learned and my experience is what I share with all of you. That’s my gift. So bring on the photo shoots, the wigs, the fun. I’m gonna be a cute baldy once again 😍 I’m Particularly excited for a nice curly mullet that I’ll grow. Ahahah #bald #shorthair #buzzcut #buzzed #chemo #baldgirl #shorthair #chemotherapy #ellymayday #nohairdontcare #nohair #buzz #hairloss #baldgirl #baldgirlsrock
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Her raw honesty was an inspiration to her fans and other women with the disease. In August of 2018, she posted a picture that showed off her scars and talked about her approach to the disease. “I’m not the “thumbs up” cancer girl that’s going to always post positively. I’m not throwing shade on those who are, it’s just not me. I’m not a happy person everyday,” she wrote. “I’m not a warrior, I don’t label myself with this ‘fight’ vocabulary associated with cancer. I’m just a girl who’s working towards getting better.”
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Lost a few followers the other day with my post showing all my injection sites. I do my best to not freak you guys out while at the same time giving you a real look at my situation. I don’t think my page is typical of the cancer story. I don’t speak heavily about religion because I believe it isn’t something that unites us all, rather divides. I speak about love, since I believe that’s more connecting. I’m not the “thumbs up” cancer girl that’s going to always post positively. I’m not throwing shade on those who are, it’s just not me. I’m not a happy person everyday. I’m not a warrior, I don’t label myself with this “fight” vocabulary associated with cancer. I’m just a girl who’s working towards getting better. I know I did a boxing shoot but this was before I understood cancer for myself. I don’t celebrate being a survivor. I think it’s alright for others to do so but I feel too aware of how many don’t move past this disease. Being that I am so public I have met and lost many women. I’m also never truly done with this disease. I personally don’t like that I’m losing my summer, being poked with needles and confined to living in a hospital, among many other things I could complain about.. but I can’t do anything about it so why be upset. I’ve made the best of my situation because I’ve chosen to. I hope you take the time to understand your feelings about this disease for yourself. If you are planning on being public about it, know there are sacrifices you’re making but know there is also benefits to being open. (It’s best to comment rather than dm me your response to this, I read my comments)
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Ovarian cancer ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women, accounting for more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system, according to the American Cancer Society. If the cancer is diagnosed and treated early, the five-year survival rate is over 90 percent, but because the cancer’s symptoms can be vague and there’s no early detection test, only about 20 percent of all cases are found early, according to the National Ovarian Cancer Coalition.
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