Wednesday, October 20, 2010

The Scar Project

Updated 3/2017-- photos and all links (except to my own posts) removed as many are no longer active and it was easier than checking each one.

We all know October is breast cancer awareness month.  The pink ribbon is how many think of breast cancer, but as this tweet reminds us all breast cancer is much more serious.
RT @laikas: RT @gfry "Breast cancer is not a pink ribbon" Exhibition has its own site: http://www.thescarproject.org/home.html Impressive!
I had not known of The Scar Project (photo create) prior to reading that tweet on Monday, but I have seen and created many of the scars.  The physical breast cancer scars come from biopsies, lumpectomies, mastectomies, and even the reconstruction.
The Scar Project, photographer David Jay, and all the women who participated are to be commended. 
The SCAR Project is a series of large-scale portraits of young breast cancer survivors shot by fashion photographer David Jay. Primarily an awareness raising campaign, The SCAR Project puts a raw, unflinching face on early onset breast cancer while paying tribute to the courage and spirit of so many brave young women.
Dedicated to the more than 10,000 women under the age of 40 who will be diagnosed this year alone The SCAR Project is an exercise in awareness, hope, reflection and healing. The mission is three-fold: Raise public consciousness of early-onset breast cancer, raise funds for breast cancer research/outreach programs and help young survivors see their scars, faces, figures and experiences through a new, honest and ultimately empowering lens.
The SCAR Project subjects range from ages 18 to 35 and represent the often overlooked group of young women living with breast cancer. (Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in young women ages 15-40). They journey from across America and the world to be photographed for The SCAR Project. Nearly 100 so far. The youngest 18.
There was an exhibition of the project in New York this past weekend.   Even though, the exhibition is over, there is a book for sale of The Scar Project. 

2 comments:

Chrysalis said...

That's for sure...it is not a pink ribbon.

Cynthia Bailey MD said...

This reality check is so important. Just today I saw a tweet from a fellow who said "I know breasts sell, but does there need to be breasts on the cover of my Wired magazine?" Breasts in the media are so much more than simple anatomic parts of our human bodies. It makes losing them even harder because in our culture they represent more than reality. It's almost easier to lose a lung than it is a breast.

Thank you for making me aware of this very important project.

Cynthia Bailey MD