Cervical Cancer Awareness Week0

For those who are familiar with my work and ongoing projects, raising awareness of cervical cancer has been a massive part of my life ever since I was diagnosed four years ago. Each year on Cervical Cancer Awareness Week I try something a bit new, a bit different to help those with the disease and also help to raise awareness of the symptoms and preventions of the disease.

Cervical cancer is caused on majority by HPV, which is contracted sexually by four out of five people at least once in their lifetime. However, a small number of those who are female will not be able to kill the virus and it may turn into pre-cancerous cells. These cells again have a high chance of going away on their own (these are also to cells picked up by a routine smear test), but some later develop into cancer if left untreated.

Cervical cancer not only is life-threatening, but also if you’re lucky enough to survive it, you might completely lose your fertility. This is why it’s so important for ladies to attend their smear tests, and to be aware of the symptoms: abnormal bleeding, discomfort during sex and unusual discharge. If you do experience any of these symptoms, please go see your doctor and ask for a smear test just to be safe. You are the only one responsible for your own health! Another important point is the fact smear tests are only available to ladies over 25 years. I was 21 years old when I was diagnosed and am proof of the disease happening under this age. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and you are under 25 years old, please keep insisting you are given a smear by your doctor. If they decline your request, go see another doctor!

Anyway, enough lecturing, this week I took photographs of two lovely ladies who have suffered from gynae cancers, and gave them a bit of a pamper session for a treat. Katy from Adore Hair kindly donated her time to giving the ladies a full makeover, and they then popped down to the studio for a shoot unlike no other! I also photographed the Royal Derby Hospital’s cake sale which was held to raise awareness of the disease as well as raise funds for Jo’s Trust – the UK’s only cervical cancer charity. Photos of each are below: