Imagine a world where a simple test could save countless lives from the deadliest cancer affecting women. Yet, despite its devastating impact, ovarian cancer remains shrouded in silence, lacking the early detection tools that could make all the difference. But here's where it gets controversial: why, in an era of medical advancements, do women still face such a critical gap in healthcare?**
Michelle Grand-Milkovic, a restaurateur and ovarian cancer survivor, knows this reality all too well. A routine follow-up after hernia surgery revealed she had stage 3, terminal ovarian cancer, with tumors spread throughout her body. Her story is a stark reminder of the urgent need for change. “The journey of cancer can be incredibly isolating,” Michelle shares. “For me, it’s been about learning to surrender, not fight, and in doing so, I’ve found myself more open to receiving support.”
Ovarian cancer is a silent killer, often diagnosed too late due to vague symptoms like bloating, reduced appetite, abdominal pain, bladder issues, and irregular spotting. And this is the part most people miss: chronic underfunding and systemic bias in women’s health have left this disease, which affects millions globally each year, dangerously overlooked. Women experiencing these symptoms must advocate for themselves and seek medical attention promptly.
In a powerful show of solidarity, over 100 women from diverse professional backgrounds gathered at Michelle’s restaurant, love.fish Barangaroo, for the final Collabor8Women event of 2025. This wasn’t just a networking lunch—it doubled as a fundraiser, raising over $12,000 for the Camilla and Marc “Ovaries, talk about them” campaign. The campaign’s bold goal? To bring the world’s first DNA-based early detection test for ovarian cancer to clinical trials by 2026. But here’s the question: will this groundbreaking effort receive the attention and funding it deserves, or will it fall victim to the same systemic neglect?**
Collabor8Women co-founder Karen Eck reflects on the initiative’s impact: “This special lunch marks our 35th event since starting with just one table of eight in December 2021. Since then, we’ve served 2,500 plates of culinary excellence from Australia’s top restaurants, spotlighted female leaders in hospitality, and generated an estimated $1.45 million in economic value for NSW alone.”
Despite her diagnosis, Michelle remains a beacon of resilience, with 34 years in hospitality and no plans to slow down. “To me, hospitality is a warm embrace,” she says. “Every day, I reflect on how blessed I am to be surrounded by such love and light, when so many others are not as fortunate. The reality is, we all face challenges, hardships, and loss. No one’s journey is greater or lesser than another’s—that is the journey of life.”
Michelle’s story and the efforts of Collabor8Women are a call to action. But what do you think? Is enough being done to address the disparities in women’s health? Share your thoughts in the comments—let’s keep this conversation going and push for the change that’s long overdue.
