Breast Cancer Survivor Poses for Portraits of Hope

For immediate release

Date: 3rd October 2014

Breast Cancer Survivor Poses for Portraits of Hope

It's one of the hardest things a woman has to go through, but two time breast cancer survivor, Raewyn Porter, has bared all and posed for portraits of hope to celebrate the beauty of her body following a mastectomy, with the hope it will empower other women facing breast cancer.

The 56 year old from Dannvirke was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2004 at the age of 46, and after battling thyroid cancer when she was 25. Raewyn thought she had put cancer behind her once and for all, until her second breast cancer diagnosis in 2011.

Raewyn says, "It is so important for women to see that they will be ok, they will still be beautiful and you can be happy. That's why I posed for these portraits as part of the Hope Emerges Project." After Raewyn's first breast cancer diagnosis in 2004, she was very vigilant about checking her breasts, going for yearly mammograms, which she thanks for picking up her second diagnosis in 2011.

"It is so important to check your breasts regularly for any abnormalities. My first diagnosis in 2004 was the result of discharge from my right nipple, then in 2011, it was calcifications in my left breast," says Raewyn.

At the time, of her second diagnosis, Raewyn decided to have her breast removed and not have a reconstruction. "For me, I felt that a reconstructed breast would not feel the same as my remaining one, and I thought, it just wasn't for me. To be honest, it didn't really bother me. For each of us on this journey, we have to do what feels right for us. It is an emotional time, and you can feel that you are on a rollercoaster ride. You just have to take it one day at a time and surround yourself with wonderful, supportive people."

The Hope Emerges Project was founded by Nic Russell, to help women embrace their new form after going through the ordeal of having their breasts removed. Nic said: "I wanted to start a whole new conversation about breast surgery and mastectomy. When women are first told that they need to have a mastectomy, the images they see online or are shown by doctors can be quite stark and graphic. The Hope Emerges Project is about showing women's bodies in a beautiful, positive way."

Raewyn agrees, and says the reason she got involved in the Hope Emerges Project was to help change the conversation around mastectomies and help women embrace their bodies, imperfections and all. Raewyn says, "I hope that by sharing my images that I will in some small way, help other women fell more comfortable about their bodies. You can be happy and have a positive life after breast cancer."

For more information on the Hope Emerges Project, visit: www.hopeemerges.co.nz.

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