Seen to be Heard

Jennifer Willis

With the blessing of the women I photographed, the images in this portfolio are uncompromising and provocative. They are raw, powerful and could even be described as graphic. They are also as authentic, beautiful and dignified as my sitters. In the autumn of 2020, a friend told me that she had been diagnosed with Secondary Breast Cancer (also known as Metastatic or Stage 4 Breast Cancer). Her breast cancer had spread to other parts of her body. The disease was incurable and treatment would be palliative. Not long after, she asked if I would photograph her for the remainder of her life. At the time, her prognosis was between 9 months and 2 years. I agreed. As I spent more time with her, I learned that where we live (Northern Ireland), those diagnosed with Secondary Breast Cancer often lack the support they need. There is a lack of understanding of the disease and knowledge of its symptoms even amongst the medical profession. Perhaps most shocking to me is that the delivery of care can lack empathy. Too often symptoms are disregarded as hormone or pregnancy related, infection, injury or psychological. Pain killers, antibiotics, physiotherapy or counselling are prescribed and scans, diagnoses and treatment are delayed. Often breast cancer is represented in the media with pink ribbons, the very best specialist care and survival. However, this belies the reality for those who live in the knowledge that their breast cancer will kill them. They often feel invisible. I decided to offer my time and photographic ability to give them visibility. I suggested putting together an exhibition of portraits showing the physical and emotional pain of living with this devastating disease. My images would reveal their experiences, give them a voice, enable them to raise awareness of the disease, and to share their stories with the public, medical professionals, politicians and policy makers.

Building trusting relationships before even lifting the camera was essential to being able to represent their stories with dignity and authenticity. In the intimacy of the studio, not only did they bare their physical scars but they also confided in me their pain, their emotions, hopes, and fears. Capturing the often unseen realities of their lives in their faces was a need. The lighting was simple. Most of the final images were captured organically during conversation, and during periods of me just listening. I became acutely aware of the importance to these women of being heard. I need the viewer to see the person first, then, in so far as each individual was comfortable, the surgical scars, mastecomies, reconstructions, pick lines and drug ports. There were many memorable days, some joyful, others were incredibly hard. Five of the women I photographed have died, one before she saw her portrait. This work, and their participation in it, has become part of their legacy. Whilst I will never be able to quantify the difference that these images have made, it became a work of advocacy that has resulted in some tangible changes. I have also witnessed the impact that the project has had in the lives of the women who participated. Through their participation, they used their platform and raised their incredibly strong voices, they were empowered to speak up, to advocate for themselves and for others. They now have invaluable support from each other and from a dedicated specialist support group.

Getting to know these women and being part of their lives has been a privilege. I am proud, humbled and so very grateful to have been able to use my photography in this way. The impact on me as a photographer and as a person has been profound.

The Seen to be Heard photo album

Jennifer Willis