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.
Final Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society post
When you first meet Bonnie Kam it is hard to believe that she is 40 years old and has been battling breast cancer for the past 4 years. She looks young, vibrant and healthy. At 36 she underwent surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, yet her cancer continued spreading into her bones. Despite her doctors’ best efforts, her back and pelvis have grown so weak and been so damaged that she barely has any spine left. She continues to fight the cancer with radiation and light doses of chemotherapy every 2 months. She practices meditation and ChiGong exercise to help her overall health. Despite everything, she remains positive and in fact told me she feels lucky. She has a beautiful 9 year old child and a supportive and loving family by her side. Her advice to others battling cancer is to make sure that you enjoy life as much as possible, spend time with those you love and fight as hard as you can to live.
Bonnie Kam
Eleanor Fung was in shock when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 at age 58, she underwent a mastectomy and radiation treatments. She has had a successful and full recovery. Years before her own illness her father had been sick and passed away. After his death, Eleanor found great comfort and support from the support groups sponsored by the Hong Kong Anti-Cancer Society. Once she had completely recovered from her treatments she decided to volunteer to help others that weren’t as fortunate as she was. She is now very conscious of living a healthy and mindful life.
Eleanor Fung
Alice Cheung is a remarkable woman, she has taken a great tragedy in her life and turned it into something positive. Alice grew up with a great passion for language and education, her dream was to become an English teacher. In 1983 she found herself newly married and had just embarked on her teaching career when she was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer. She was 25 years old. It was stunning for her to be diagnosed with cancer at such a young age and at this time in Hong Kong there was still an enormous stigma attached to having cancer. Multiple rounds of radiation therapy left her with terrible pain and permanently effected her speech. Her dream of teaching was over, as it was too difficult for her to speak for long periods of time. She had great support and encouragement from her family and doctor (one of the founders of the HKACS). Without hesitation she switched gears and pursued a career in teaching administration. Alice was one of the first people to speak out as a cancer survivor in Hong Kong and continues to be an advocate for cancer patients. She is a tireless volunteer, selflessly helping others towards a common goal, to live a good life.
Alice Cheung