About Damn Time with Claire Lemiski
Claire Lemiski is an airline pilot who was diagnosed at 36 with Stage III, hormone positive breast cancer — six years after her father’s breast cancer diagnosis.
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Dancing Through the Storm: Claire’s Story of Resilience and Advocacy
When Claire, a regional airline captain from Toronto, Ontario, was diagnosed with Stage III, hormone-positive breast cancer at 36, it was a shock. Despite her father’s experience with breast cancer, genetic tests didn’t classify her as high risk, leading to delays in her diagnosis. By the time her active treatment concluded in October 2023, Claire had embraced a new chapter: thriving in survivorship, mentoring aspiring women pilots, and advocating for self-advocacy and awareness.
Her journey isn’t just one of survival but also of connection and storytelling. Through the lens of her relationship with her father, also a breast cancer survivor, Claire’s experience becomes a powerful narrative of shared resilience, community, and joy even amidst adversity.
The Power of Shared Experiences
July 15, 2023, was a milestone for Claire — a day of love and laughter as she celebrated her brother’s wedding. It was a moment she had clung to during the grueling months of chemotherapy, a day that symbolized hope and normalcy. Claire and her father took to the dance floor that night, moving to the rhythm of Lizzo’s anthem, their awkward moves embodying the freedom and joy of that moment.
For Claire, this wasn’t just a dance. It was a celebration of survival and a poignant reminder of the unique bond she shared with her dad. As both father and daughter navigated their cancer journeys — his beginning in 2017 and hers just six years later — they found solace in their shared understanding of a reality few could grasp.
Their connection extended beyond the tangible, like the quirky genes they shared, to the emotional and intangible. Whether it was trading vivid chemo-induced dreams or tackling mundane crises like a clogged toilet, Claire’s dad became a source of strength, humor, and validation during her treatment.
Advocacy Through Vulnerability
Claire’s journey with cancer revealed the gaps and disparities in awareness and support, particularly for male breast cancer patients like her father. Men make up just 1% of breast cancer diagnoses, a statistic that often leaves them isolated in a predominantly female healthcare setting. Her father’s experience lacked the robust resources and peer support Claire encountered as a young woman with breast cancer.
This contrast fueled Claire’s passion for advocacy. By sharing her story, she aims to dismantle stigmas around male breast cancer and encourage others — regardless of gender — to seek the support and resources they need.
Choosing Flat: A Personal and Empowering Decision
In her post-treatment life, Claire embraced “aesthetic flat closure,” declining reconstruction after her double mastectomy. For her, it was the right choice amidst options that didn’t feel ideal.
Being flat doesn’t define Claire, but it is part of her identity — one she’s integrated into her life with grace and authenticity. Whether mentoring women in aviation or paddling with her breast cancer survivor dragon boat team, she embodies confidence and resilience. “People rarely notice or comment,” she says, highlighting how self-perception often outweighs external observations.
Flight Paths and Life Lessons
As a woman in a male-dominated field (only 6% of pilots are women), Claire is no stranger to navigating unique challenges. Her career has prepared her for resilience, a quality she leaned on during her cancer journey. Now, as she waits to return to flying, she’s using her platform to inspire others, blending her experiences as a pilot and a survivor to show that setbacks are simply opportunities for new beginnings.
Claire’s advocacy extends beyond the cockpit. Through public speaking and mentorship, she encourages young women to break barriers in aviation and reminds those facing a breast cancer diagnosis that they’re not alone.
Finding Joy Amid the Struggle
Claire’s story is a testament to the human spirit’s ability to find joy in the darkest times. On the dance floor with her dad, ten days post-chemo and six days before surgery, Claire felt something profound: hope. The music, the lights, and the laughter all came together to remind her that, despite everything, she was going to be alright.
As she quotes: “Turn up the music, turn down the lights — I got a feeling I’m gonna be alright.”
Writing Prompt Inspired by Today’s Episode
We heard Claire share about a delayed cancer diagnosis in her experience, and I know many of you have had delayed diagnoses. It seems to be a bit of a hallmark of being diagnosed under the median age. But everyone listening has a path to diagnosis. So whether yours involved delay or other factors, set your timer for eight minutes and, without stopping or editing yourself, write on:
What it took to get to my diagnosis.
See what needs to come out and where it will take you.
If you find that you write best with a good prompt, check out our free prompts and learn about our writing workshops.
Happy writing! Until next time, take good care.
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