Selena

A hand-signed black and white portrait from The Menopause Effect: An Appalachian Unmasking, Anna Mullins' ongoing series photographing women across Appalachia as they move through one of life's biggest changes. Each portrait is shown alongside the woman's own words.

My story is a little different than most, but yet all too familiar for far too many. Last October, at 45, I was diagnosed with PR+ ER+ Stage 2 breast cancer. And I never in a million years would have thought the "after cancer" would be the hardest part.

I don't recognize myself anymore. Not so much physically, but the essence of... me, and I just don't like myself right now.

Bloodwork showed that I wasn't anywhere close to menopause yet, but the medication I started after surgery basically shuts down female hormones. I went from nothing to full blown menopause, which I call Nought to Menopause.

In the beginning I yelled, cried, threw things, kicked walls, cursed like a drunken sailor, slept a lot then couldn't sleep at all. But now I hurt, my body just hurts. Everything hurts. And my only mood is aggravated... constantly aggravated, which really aggravates me. Its a vicious cycle. And these hot flashes, these hot flashes come from deep in your soul and engulf every bit of you.

The doctors all look at me like I'm joking when I tell them, I can feel the hot flashes start in my feet, my feet literally go numb and it starts moving up my legs as the sweat starts pouring.. from everywhere! I get sick on my stomach, dizzy, and weak. *Crickets* from the doctors. Or... "that's all part of it".

That has been my experience as a medically induced menopausal Appalachian women, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone else.

Selena Saferight Alexander

• Title: Selena
• Artist: Anna Mullins
• Series: The Menopause Effect: An Appalachian Unmasking
• Medium: Black and white photograph, hand-signed
• Print size: 11 x 14 in.
• Framed size: 16.5 x 19.5 in.
• Framing: Black wood frame under glass, acid-free black core mat, acid-free foam core backboard. Ready to hang.
• Ships from: Formato Fine Arts, Wytheville, VA (available for gallery pickup)

About the artist: Anna Mullins is a photographer documenting women in perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause across Appalachia. Her ongoing project, The Menopause Effect, is powered by Patchwork Kinfolx and is, in her words, judgment free, gender affirming, and Appalachian rooted.