My body and mind has not been the same since surgery and cancer diagnosis, treatment and menopause. My surgery and beginning of menopause was in June 2024, chemo was from August to October 2024, and radiotherapy was from November to December 2024.
Life has not returned to how it was pre cancer, and that is because I experience far more fatigue than I used to, and my brain fog is thick. Chemotherapy and menopause can cause brain fog, and radiotherapy can cause fatigue.
Nowadays I can’t do more than one or two things a day. I say no to more things than I say yes to. Some days I stay in bed the whole day, or sleep in past 10.00 am.
I also have trouble remembering things – mostly words. As a writer and speaker, it can be really frustrating to no longer be quick thinking. My conversations don’t flow as well as before. The brain fog feels disabling at times.
The fatigue and brain fog are symptoms that many disabled people face, without cancer. The onset of these symptoms is a reminder of how cancer can turn our lives upside down. I am grateful to the incredible disabled community for talking about fatigue and brain fog, and creating a wealth of resources about how to navigate life in a slower body and mind.
Today’s Frocktober prompt is “swinging sixties”. This dress was kindly gifted to me by sustainable fashion brand, @leonard.st. It’s got sloths on it, and I think that’s very apt for the need to slow down. They swing, slowly. My shoes are @rollienation from @dreams.of.colour.
Please consider donating to my Frocktober campaign to raise funds for Ovarian Cancer research -. You can share the link too. Thank you.
Images: Carly, a woman with red skin and short dark curly hair. She’s wearing a black dress with sloths hanging on it, and green and blue shapes on it. Her shoes are tan with spots. She’s standing near a blue roller door and brick wall.
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