Mamma

Mamma¹: one's mother Mamma²: from latin »breast«

One in eight women worldwide will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. My mother was one of them.

The diagnosis came unexpectedly and felt surreal. Actually, I was the one who had been suffering from an illness (Endometriosis) for years. The fact that now one of my loved ones was in life-threatening danger and had a difficult journey ahead deeply saddened me and made me feel overwhelmed. However, when I saw my mother facing it all with a positive attitude and with strength, I realized that in the midst of a misfortune, there was an opportunity. After years of her taking care of me, I could finally give something back, be there for her, and provide support based on my own experiences.

My decision to document my mother's journey through photography came about three months after the diagnosis in August. By that time, she had already undergone all the preliminary examinations and a breast-conserving surgery. In December, she started the 16 sessions of chemotherapy, followed by 30 radiation treatments that ended in the following year in July. As the same time as the radiation started, she started hormone therapy, which is scheduled for five to ten years and is still ongoing.

Today, she is considered cured.

I want to share this story with other affected individuals and their loved ones who are seeking support in a similar situation. I want to encourage them and give them hope. Additionally, I want to raise awareness among outsiders about the topic of breast cancer in a sensitive way that allows room for interpretation.