Frocktober 2026 – Day 1

Happy Frocktober!

Frocking up for Ambassadorial duties all month in the name of Ovarian Cancer research.

In 2024 I was diagnosed with and treated for Ovarian and Endometrial Cancer. I was 42, thrown into early menopause, and the treatment made me the sickest and sorest I’ve ever been. It turned my life upside down, and while I am cancer free now I’m not the same as I was before cancer – the side effects linger.

I’ll be sharing my story of cancer, menopause and survivorship, as well as lots of facts about Ovarian Cancer and where your donations go throughout Frocktober.

When I was told I probably have Ovarian Cancer, I knew that this was bad, because the stats are scary:

With a five-year survival rate of just 49%, ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynaecological cancer.

There is no effective early. detection test for ovarian cancer. A pap smear and cervical screening DO NOT detect ovarian cancer, only cervical.

Almost 2,000 Australian women and girls are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year.

(Source: OCRF)

So I’m doing all I can to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms, and to raise funds for Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation so we can get that early detection test. Because every day I worry that my cancer wasn’t caught early enough and that I won’t live to see 47.

This month, my frocks will be fabulously fun and frivolous. But know that all of the words I’m writing (and copying and pasting from the OCRF) are heartfelt and sometimes reduce me to tears – like right now. I also know that for cancer patients and survivors, the messaging can be heavy, so tap out if you need.

Lots of friends are supporting me with podcasts and collab posts, and loads of brands have generously given me fabulous outfits.

Today’s frock is a coat-dress, made out of my old quilted doona cover, by my friend Cat – the pattern is by Lady Petrova. Boots are ASOS, brooch is by Kathleen Benham.

Please donate if you can, and share this post (and all my Frocktober posts). frocktober.org.au/fundraise/carly-findlay26

Let’s frocking do this!
🩵

Video: a series of photos of Carly, a woman with red skin and short dark curly hair, wearing an oversized quilted coat-dress with big sleeves. It’s teal and has lots of colourful flowers on it. It’s fastened by a butterfly brooch. Her boots are hot pink. She’s standing near a black wall, smiling. Music is “hey look at this look”. There are a few flickers between photos.