A cancer survivor’s parody of errors journey beyond 40+

If you’d told me a few years ago that post-cancer life would involve battling joint pain, mood swings, and the puffing muffin top, I would’ve asked for more details (as if I’d have more options to choose from). But here we are—me at 40+, having survived cancer, wrestling with my body’s new quirks, and still finding time to learn new skills like riding a scooter, swimming, and—wait for it—starting an online business of office coordination. Sounds wicked right? I know it doesn’t but who cares if you have the guts to start again after going jobless and curing out of cancer.

Let’s start with the joint pain. Imagine the feeling of a car that’s been left out in the rain for decades. That’s me, every time I try to stand up. My knees and hips creak like an old wooden door in a horror movie. I’m pretty sure they’re plotting against me. But hey, they can’t stop me. Not when I’ve got a scooter to conquer. You should’ve seen me wobbling down the sidewalk, channeling my inner 8-year-old with a not-so-graceful start. But guess what? I didn’t fall. I just *gently swerved into a bush*. That’s progress, right?…

Then there’s the mood swings. One moment, I’m signing up for a swimming class like an optimistic sea creature; the next, I’m crying because I can't find the matching swimming cap and goggles with my swimming costume, which gracefully covers my multiple tyres. Or worse, plunging into depressing because the wifi is down to explore the shopping trends in the Amazon marketplace. Post-cancer life is a rollercoaster, and I’m riding it without a seatbelt and flooring the accelerator.

And let’s not forget the obesity battle. My body’s like, “Hey, you survived cancer, so let’s celebrate with a little extra weight!” A smoothie cleanse? Sounds nice, but I’ll have a burger instead.

Still, I’m not giving up. With my scooter, swimming skills, and new online business, I’m taking life’s challenges—one stiff joint and mood swing at a time!