Hailey Barr, a 42-year-old mother from North Yorkshire, is living with debilitating brain fog and chronic exhaustion after life-saving treatment for a rare cancer. Diagnosed with Uterine Adenosarcoma in February 2024, she underwent a total hysterectomy and removal of both ovaries. While cancer-free, the treatment plunged her into immediate surgical menopause, leaving her with what she describes as "temporary amnesia."
Daily Battles with Brain Fog and Fatigue
"Brain fog almost sounds gentle, but for me it's more like temporary amnesia," Hailey told creatorzine.com. "I can forget what I'm saying mid-sentence, which is especially difficult at work. My word recall isn't what it used to be, and if I don't write something down, I won't remember it."
Physically, Hailey says her joints feel "like they've aged decades overnight," and mornings are particularly tough. The fatigue is constant, making it challenging to balance a full-time job as a Royal Mail manager with caring for her two young sons, aged six and eight at the time of diagnosis.
From Heavy Periods to Cancer Diagnosis
Hailey first noticed symptoms at age 38 with increasingly heavy periods. Initially advised to take the contraceptive pill and given an ultrasound that showed no irregularities, her condition worsened. By mid-2023, she was bleeding every day. During an appointment to discuss a contraceptive coil, a doctor discovered a large tumour on her cervix.
"At that point, I broke down," Hailey said. "My life had been completely taken over by heavy bleeding. I couldn't stand up without flooding, I couldn't sit without a towel under me, I could only wear black clothes and I felt like no one was really hearing me."
A biopsy confirmed uterine adenosarcoma on February 24, 2024. The cancer was caught at Stage 1a and low grade, so surgery alone was sufficient, and no chemotherapy was needed. Hailey has now been cancer-free for two years.
Impact of Surgical Menopause
Unlike natural menopause, which progresses slowly, surgical menopause happens instantly when both ovaries are removed, causing a sudden drop in hormone levels. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is not always suitable for cancer survivors. According to research from the charity Menopause and Cancer alongside UCLH, 70 to 90% of women over 40 experience permanent menopause as a result of cancer treatment.
Hailey found support through Menopause and Cancer, attending groups at the Leveson Centre in York. She now advocates for menopause expertise to be part of cancer care teams. "It shouldn't be something we have to go searching for ourselves," she said. "Surviving cancer is one thing but living well after it matters just as much."
