Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is AskEllyn?

AskEllyn is a virtual companion designed to help individuals navigate through the difficult and emotionally challenging journey of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. By using my own experiences as a breast cancer survivor, the platform aims to provide comfort, empathy, and informative resources.

2. Who is behind AskEllyn?

AskEllyn is the creation of Ellyn - a breast cancer survivor who has shared her own journey in the book "Flat Please". With a dedicated team of developers, her experiences were turned into an AI-based tool designed to help others on a similar journey.

3. How to access and use AskEllyn?

Simply use any browser or mobile device to ask her your questions about the breast cancer journey and she'll respond in seconds. You can ask standalone questions or engage her in full conversation. She is fully multi-lingual, so feel free to speak to her in your native language. She'll answer you in kind.

4. Can AskEllyn provide medical advice?

While AskEllyn provides resources and shares experiences from Ellyn's breast cancer journey, it does not provide medical advice. It's recommended always to consult with healthcare professionals for medical guidance related to your specific circumstances.

5. What can I expect from using AskEllyn?

AskEllyn is designed to "hold your hand" through your journey, providing comfort, empathy, and quality resources that I, Ellyn, found helpful during my diagnosis and treatment. It serves as a compassionate companion during a challenging time.

6. What is the story behind AskEllyn?

AskEllyn was inspired during a chance encounter between Ellyn and fellow Waterloo tech entrepreneur Pat Belliveau.
After hearing Ellyn tell her breast cancer story, Pat asked to read the manuscript of her book entitled Flat Please recounting her journey.
Sparks of inspiration began to fly. He saw the opportunity to transform the content of the book into a powerful conversational AI that could be a shining example of AI for Good. It would be authentically true to Ellyn’s voice and realize her ambition to ensure those diagnosed with breast cancer would never feel alone or ashamed of their diagnosis.
In a mere three weeks, Pat had a working model of the conversational AI up and running. He then recruited two close friends, marketing pro Ryan Burgio and software developer Christian Silvestru to the AskEllyn project, which is the flagship solution of the trio’s new benevolent AI for Good’s venture, called Gambit Technologies.
The team have become fast allies, united by a shared desire to do good for the world and leave a meaningful legacy.
AskEllyn is a powerful start. But it is just the beginning.