I am a photographer living in Westchester county, NY. I have been shooting commercial advertising for the past 20 years. I recently received a small business grant from British Airways. I won 10 business class flights to any 4 destinations that BA flies. It was a contest based on a series of essays that I wrote explaining how face to face travel could change my business and help it take a more photo journalistic path. My essays talked about the fact that I am a survivor of ovarian and endometrial cancers, and that since I have been sick, I have been looking for an opportunity to travel around the world documenting photographically how women with cancer are intrinsically connected. I would like to show how our struggles, hopes, joys, and concerns have no borders. That we share a common bond, regardless of where we live around the globe. This blog is hopefully going to document this journey over the next year.
More Hong Kong
Kwong Fung Yee
Kwong Fung Yee was diagnosed at age 38 with stage 2B breast cancer, that was 22 years ago. She had a lumpectomy and diligently went for her annual check ups. In 2009 she didn’t feel quite herself, she felt a strange lump in her neck. A pet scan revealed that the breast cancer had returned and invaded her body-her lungs, her bones, all of her was full of the cancer she thought had left her 20 years before. Her bones were so fragile they were on the verge of breaking. She had surgery on her arm to support the bone and keep it intact. She went through 6 rounds of chemo. When I saw her in December, she was improving all the time. She has been using only Chinese medicine for the past year and continues to be strong and well. Her advice to others is to always treasure every friend and special person in your life.
Man Kwok Wai
Man Kwok Wai is 52 and has been a carrier of hepatitis B since he was 18. He ignored it until January of 2010 when he started to have pain after eating. He went to the doctor who prescribed pain medication and sent him to a specialist who ordered a CT scan. When he went back for the results, he could tell that the doctor was nervous. He told Man that he had liver cancer. He was referred to another doctor at the Queen Mary Hospital where he received target therapy to relieve his pain. He asked what the plan was to cure me and they said there was no other treatment option, no plan. So Man found a new doctor and a new course of treatment which he started in July of 2010. It was a target treatment combined with 12 rounds of chemotherapy. In December after 10 rounds a CT scan revealed that 80-90% of the disease was gone and his liver function had returned to normal. His CA fluctuates around 1500, and he still had 2 more chemo treatments to take. He was searching within himself to decide if he would continue treatment or not as it was physically shattering. He was using an herbal tea prescribed for him by the Chinese medical doctor at the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society facility which helps to relieve the side effects from his treatments and practices Chi Gong. He has wonderful support from his family, and he lives his life fully, making sure not to deny himself the simple pleasures in life. Hopefully both Man and Kwong will continue to live long, happy and healthy lives.