A powerful photography exhibition highlighting the lived experiences of women with advanced breast cancer is set to take place this weekend.
‘Living Loudly. Dying to be Heard: Perspectives on Advanced Breast Cancer’ will feature portraits and personal stories from eight women living with advanced breast cancer.
The exhibition will showcase the stories of Dr Tonya Leonard, Cynthia Cosme Cravo, Aine Murphy, Joy Keating, Barbara King, Fiona Dowd, Aileen O’Connor and Hazel Fleming.
It offers visitors an opportunity to hear their experiences and better understand the realities they face.
The photography exhibition takes place at Dundrum Town Centre on Saturday, October 17, and Sunday, October 18.
Their stories span different regions, backgrounds and experiences, from navigating healthcare as an immigrant to living with neurodiversity alongside cancer.
What unites them is their determination to be heard and their insistence that the realities of living with advanced breast cancer cannot be ignored.
While some need practical support and others additional emotional support, all are calling for their voices and experiences to be recognised.
The photography exhibition is created and funded by AstraZeneca with the support of the Marie Keating Foundation.
Reflecting on her experience, Aine Murphy said: ‘Most people think of cancer as something you survive through or something you die from. A lot of people are not aware of the in-betweeners. These are the people living day-to-day, week to week, year to year with incurable cancer. These people are often unseen, unheard and invisible in our society. They constantly struggle to balance hope, gratitude and joy with the reality of the lived experience.’
Nicola Fullam, head of corporate affairs, AstraZeneca, also spoke about the campaign and said: ‘We are proud to launch an exhibition that gives voice to the often-overlooked realities of advanced breast cancer and celebrates the strength, experiences and perspectives of the women living with it. With the valued support of the Marie Keating Foundation, this campaign amplifies the experiences of eight women. Their stories shine a light on the need for change in how the healthcare system supports people living with advanced breast cancer. They also highlight the importance of ensuring that their voices and experiences are included in conversations about breast cancer and in shaping the future of breast cancer care in Ireland.’
