Carly Findlay's Blog

Help me raise funds to change the stats.

1800 Australian women and girls are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year.

Ovarian is the most lethal gynaecological cancer and more than half of those diagnosed will be alive in five years’ time. Research is the only way to change this!
That’s why I am frocking up – please donate today!

You can donate to my Frocktober fundraising page. Please share this post if you can’t donate. Thank you!

Today’s prompt is denim. It’s meant to be double denim but I am not the double denim kind of girl, plus these stats are really hard for me to read. When I did Frocktober last year, I couldn’t look at the survival stats, because I was in the thick of treatment. I still get teary reading them.

I am wearing a denim pinafore from Princess Highway over a storybook tee from Variety Hour, yellow bag by Roodle and black boots from Therapy Shoes.

Images: Carly, a woman with red skin and short dark curly hair, wearing a dark denim floral embroidered pinafore over a pale yellow top with storybook illustrations on them, black boots, sunglasses and a yellow bag. She’s standing in front of a wooden building with a triangular peaked roof. The first photo is far away, the second is close up.

The post Frocktober: denim dress and scary stats first appeared on Carly Findlay.

•FROCKTOBER•

Did you know that Frocktober began 17 years ago? Blending fashion with fundraising, a group of ten friends joined forces to raise $200 for ovarian cancer research in the first year. It’s since gone from strength to strength, and in 2024, the campaign raised more than $1.1 million in funds for ovarian cancer research through the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation.

Please help us go above and beyond this year and donate to my Frocktober fundraising page!
Feel free to share the link if you cannot donate. Thank you!

Today’s Frocktober prompt is stripes. I’m wearing a striped fluffy coat from Boden, over a watercolour print dress from Blue Illusion (kindly gifted), Therapy Shoes pink boots (previously gifted), and yellow Roodle handbag.

Image: Carly, a woman with a red face and short dark curly hair, wearing a colourful striped cropped fluffy coat over a watercolour print dress, a yellow handbag and hot pink boots. She’s standing near a white brick wall, smiling.

The post Frocktober: Stripes first appeared on Carly Findlay.

•FROCKTOBER•

Something that I’ve written a lot about since I had surgery and was diagnosed with Ovarian and Endometrial Cancer last year is the change in my body shape and size.

I lost a lot of weight, and a lot of muscle and strength. My body was unrecognisable to me. Some of my clothes would fall off as I walked.

It took a while for me to get used to my new shape and size. At times I felt very small.

Since finishing treatment, I’ve been cancer free. I haven’t returned to the same weight I was before cancer, but through eating well and exercising regularly, my curves have returned. I feel happier and more familiar in my body now.

And I now know my clothing size again.

I’m raising money for the Ovarian Cancer Research Foundation by participating in Frocktober. My fundraising page is here.Please donate what you can or share this post. Thank you.

Today I’m wearing a beautiful flowing gum printed dress gifted to me by Proud Poppy – flowing gums on a silver princess tree are my favourite. Boots are Therapy Shoes (previously gifted), brooch is May Gibbs X Erstwilder , and bag is Roodle.

Image: Carly, a woman with a red face and short dark curly hair, wearing a green flowering gums on it, a yellow handbag and hot pink boots. She’s standing in a marble foyer, smiling. Her reflection is in the mirror.

The post Frocktober: an unfamiliar body first appeared on Carly Findlay.

Why Frocking up and fundraising for research is so important:

Due to the vague symptoms and lack of early detection test, about 70% of people with ovarian cancer are diagnosed in the advanced stages, when it becomes difficult to treat. Your generous support can help researchers continue their work to develop early detection methods. My fundraising page is here.. Thank you!

Today I’m wearing an old @monika_forsberg X @gormanclothing dress, a @petecromer X @erstwilder brooch and pink @skechersaustralia.

Images: Carly, a woman with red skin and short dark curly hair, wearing a green and pink bird print dress over a green tee, and pink sneakers. She’s standing on grass in front of a black wooden fence. She’s smiling. The first photo is up close and the second is full length.

The post Frocktober: day 7 first appeared on Carly Findlay.

Two posts in a day – to celebrate reaching $2000 on my Frocktober fundraising campaign. Thank you to everyone who has donated, shared posts, commented and spread the word! Your support means so much. My fundraiser has been shared by politicians to drag queens and everyone in between. Mum has traipsed Dean St in Albury, telling people about the fundraiser. She’s the best. And so many of you have donated a little or a lot – even in tough times – thank you.

I hope these facts about Ovarian Cancer are useful for you.

Here’s something everyone should know:

The CA125 blood test is non-specific and is often elevated in other diseases and inflammatory conditions such as endometriosis, menstruation and uterine fibroids.
Although it can be helpful to monitor the status of ovarian cancer in women who have already been diagnosed, it is not an accurate detection test for ovarian cancer. This is another reason why developing an effective early detection test is so crucial. Let’s back research and find it.

I have my CA125 levels examined every three months by blood test. It’s scary, but the last two have been very positive. I went from five figures down to a single figure thanks to surgery and treatment, and it feels like a miracle. I’m kicking cancer’s arse.

Wearing beautiful gifted poppy dress form @blue.illusion – it’s so feminine and lovely to wear, thank you. Boots are @ilovebillyshoes and bag is @radleylondon.

Please donate to my Frocktober campaign and share this post – – link in bio. Again, I appreciate the donations and shares so far, and the support from brands too. It’s been a lot to share my story of Ovarian Cancer every day, but I know it’s for a good cause.

Images: Carly, a woman with red skin and short dark curly hair, wearing a cream dress with purple and red poppies on it. She’s got neon red boots on, and a purple handbag. She’s in the garden, standing on grass near a black fence. The first photo has a screen shot of $2002 raised. The second is close up.

The post Frocktober – $2000! first appeared on Carly Findlay.

•FROCKTOBER•

Why we need to progress research for Ovarian Cancer:

Regular pelvic ultrasounds are not effective as a population screening tool for ovarian cancer in asymptomatic women and are not recommended for this purpose. A transvaginal ultrasound (TVU) can detect masses in the ovary; however, it cannot distinguish between benign and cancerous disease. We need better tests and research holds the key – that’s why I am doing this and asking for your support.

P consider donating to my Frocktober fundraiser , or share the link and this post with your networks. Thank you to all the very generous donors so far – you’re so appreciated!

Today’s Frocktober prompt is Monochrome Monday. I’m wearing all cream – flower top is @blue.illusion, skirt is @seedheritage from @hhmission, shoes are Cinori.

Images: Carly wearing a cream flower top and silky metallic cream skirt and metallic shoes, st aiding in a garden under a blossoming tree, smiling.

The post Frocktober – monochrome Monday first appeared on Carly Findlay.

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This week I ended a friendship – for a few reasons. One was an accusation that I am not doing much public activism…

What you see on social media is only some of the activism I do.

I work to create space in the arts for Disabled artists. I write. I meet with politicians and other influential people privately. I amplify marginalised people. I donate money where I can. I write letters to politicians. I
facilitate communities for people with ichthyosis and disabled people. I mentor other disabled people. I make my social media as accessible as possible – doing more in digital accessibility than most non disabled people.

On top of this, I’ve been doing a lot of prep for Frocktober (which is actually activism!) – writing up posts and the reason why I’m raising funds and awareness for ovarian cancer research.

The five year survival rate for people who have had ovarian cancer is 49%. I don’t want to spend my whole life shouting at the government when I might not see 50.

Last year I spent a lot of time emailing politicians and public servants about the broken welfare system, and I’ve since met with politicians to talk to them how it can be improved.

And I’m still in recovery after receiving gruelling cancer treatment.

So don’t come at me for not doing enough activism. I’m allowed to just be, to have fun and have breaks.

Donate to my Frocktober team. Thanks! Your support means so much 

Today’s Frocktober prompt is purple passion. Purple is my colour. When I look at it, and wear it, especially this shade, I feel so good.

Dress: @countryroad, shoes are from Cinori a few years ago, and only suitable for brief wears!, bag was a gift from @seemeswoon, purple tee is @o2wear.

Video: Carly, a woman with red skin and short dark curly hair, wearing a lavender shirt dress over a lavender tee, carrying a lilac floral bag, wearing sparkly heels in the garden.

The post Frocktober – on activism first appeared on Carly Findlay.

•FROCKTOBER•

Let’s bust some myths and get informed

Pap smears or cervical screenings cannot detect ovarian cancer. Currently, there is no early detection test for ovarian cancer and the only way to definitely diagnose it is through surgery. Funds raised throughout Frocktober go toward research projects, including diagnostics and early detection.

I underwent so many unrelated tests over many months, for conditions that I thought I had (related to the bowel) before I finally got diagnosed with Ovarian and Endometrial Cancer in June 2024. This means I will never know if my cancer was detected early.

Please consider donating to my Frocktober fundraiser. If you can’t donate, please share this post. Thank you!

Today’s prompt is “floral fun”. I’m wearing a gorgeous dress gifted to me by Melbourne brand, Variety Hour. I love the floral print and the fab sleeves. Sunnies are from the Taylor Swift 1989 concert back in 2015, yellow tee is Sportsgirl, brooch is Curious Carousel, necklace is Blue Illusion, shoes are Rollies and bag is Roodle.

Images: Carly, a woman with red skin and short dark curly hair, wearing a long cream puffy sleeved dress with bright flowers on it, belted at the waist, over a butter yellow top. A golden honeycomb brooch is pinned to her dress – there are flowers in each hexagon. She’s got pale pink sunglasses and shoes on, and a yellow handbag is over her shoulder. She’s smiling, standing in front of a brick wall. The first photo is close up, the second is full length.

The post Frocktober: floral fun first appeared on Carly Findlay.

•FROCKTOBER•

Know what Ovarian Cancer symptoms to look for. I ticked the symptoms I had leading up to my Ovarian and Endometrial Cancer diagnoses in June 2024 in the list below.

From Jean Hailes:

“Ovarian cancer is hard to detect in the early stages. It usually doesn’t cause symptoms until the cancer is quite large. Symptoms may include:

increased abdominal size or persistent abdominal bloating abdominal or pelvic pain feeling full after eating a small amount needing to wee or poo often or urgently painful sex

Other symptoms can include:

changes in bowel habits unexplained weight gain or loss feeling very tiredlower back pain indigestion or heartburn nauseaunusual vaginal bleeding, including bleeding after menopause

People can experience these symptoms at different times in their lives, which is why ovarian cancer might not be diagnosed until it is quite advanced.

Talk to your doctor if you are worried about any of these symptoms. They may not be due to cancer, but it’s important to check.”

This post is part of my Frocktober campaign. I’m an ambassador this year.

Donate to my Frocktober fundraiser – and share this post, please.

Today’s prompt is gingham. These photos are from last year – a joyous trip to the tulip farm with my friend Kerri. I’d just had my third chemotherapy, and my head was bald. It was such a lovely day wandering through the flowers and taking photos. And I loved this bright outfit. My dress is Jessa Kae, hat is Blue Illusion, denim jacket is Just Jeans, brooch is Kimchi and Coconut and boots are Therapy Shoes (previously gifted).

Images: Carly, a woman with red skin, bald under a pink hat. She’s wearing a pink gingham dress, pink boots, pink handbag and light blue denim jacket with a brooch that’s a bunch of flowers on it. She’s in the tulip fields. The sky is blue.

The post Frocktober: know the symptoms of Ovarian Cancer first appeared on Carly Findlay.

Donate to make a difference!

For people diagnosed with late-stage ovarian cancer, even after successful treatment and going into remission, the chances of recurrence are around 80%.

Once there is a recurrence, the chances of long-term survival are low. Head to my Frocktober page to donate and help develop better treatments to change this statistic.

I am so scared of a recurrence. One thing that I experience is a fear of processed meats, because the Cancer Council advises these should be avoided. I enjoy processed meats like chorizo and bacon, and since my remission, I’ve tried to avoid them. I’ve spoken with a dietician and psychologist about this new fear of food.

Today’s Frocktober prompt is “bold prints”. I’m wearing a Variety Hour, Marcs Lani jacket, Therapy Shoes boots and Erstwilder brooch.

Images: Carly, a woman with red skin and short dark curly hair, wearing a hot pink jacket with a blue hummingbird brooch on the lapel, worn over a colourful pink, red, orange and green dress, and green boots. She’s smiling, standing on the grass near a black wooden fence.

The post Frocktober: fear of recurrence first appeared on Carly Findlay.