Singer-songwriter Carly Simon has detailed the progression of symptoms that led to her Parkinson's disease diagnosis, describing a challenging period that also involved a skin cancer battle.
In a statement, Simon, 83, explained that her "problems began with arthritis in both knees and one hip." Following three joint replacement surgeries, she initially attributed her continued difficulty with walking and mobility to the recovery process. "After three replacement surgeries, I assumed my difficulty walking was simply an unfortunate and rather ironic part of the recovery process," she stated.
However, her mobility continued to decline. Simon noted having trouble standing from low chairs and deep couches without assistance, describing it as feeling "swallowed by the chair and might remain there permanently."
Diagnosis and Treatment
After extensive evaluation, Simon was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, a progressive brain disorder that affects movement and balance. She has since begun taking medication to manage stiffness and other symptoms.
During the same period she was seeking treatment for her mobility issues, Simon was also diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma on her face. The skin cancer was removed, but the surgery impacted her appearance, leading her to withdraw from public view. She referred to herself as an "all-season bear" in hibernation.
Despite these health challenges, Simon has been working on new music. Her first full-length album since 2008, titled "Comes in Waves," is scheduled for release in August.
Simon acknowledged that she is "still writing, singing, imagining, laughing, worrying, remembering, and occasionally getting trapped in an overstuffed chair." She characterized Parkinson's not as a gift or blessing, but as "difficult, frustrating, and sometimes frightening," adding that she is still learning to live with the condition and accept it without feeling she has "surrendered something essential."