Documentary Photography – Fighting Cancer
After many complications at the end of the 6 months treatment, self-portrait on my final day of chemotherapy where I had endured many serious painful infections at Eastbourne DGH, England.
Social Documentary Photographer Carly Clarke is the Edge of Humanity Magazine contributor of this documentary photography. From her project ‘Reality Trauma‘. To see Carly’s gallery of projects click on any image.
‘Reality Trauma’, is a self-portrait photographic series I produced in March 2012 when diagnosed with stage 4b Hodgkin Lymphoma, a rare cancer and with a large tumour inside my right lung and chest wall, during my final year of a BA Photography degree at Middlesex University, London, England. I was forced to leave London and move back to my home town of Eastbourne in the South East of England. This is where I had weeks of extensive investigation in hospital and many lung biopsies due to my seriously deteriorated body and serious symptoms, while residing with family, before finally enduring 6 months of ABVD chemotherapy.
Beginning of ABVD chemotherapy treatment, which took place every 2 weeks for 6 months at Eastbourne DGH (District General Hospital), England.
Detail of PICC line inserted into vein in my arm used for insertion of chemotherapy, which stayed in place for the entire 6 months of treatment, Eastbourne, England.
Chemotherapy treatment at Eastbourne DGH, England.
Chemotherapy treatment, lasting 2 hours each session, at Eastbourne DGH, England.
Hair loss, emotional and feeling unwell many weeks into chemotherapy treatment, Eastbourne, England.
Having a hair cut to help deal with the hair loss, Eastbourne, England.
Waiting for one of the many chest x-ray’s in hospital due pain or related chest infections, Eastbourne DGH, England
Daily medication along with high doses of morphine for pain relief, Eastbourne, England.
Dr Grace, my Consultant Haematologist at Eastbourne DGH, England.
Self-portrait showing bald patches with hair loss, not wanting to lose my hair, Eastbourne, England.
Hair loss when washing hair, on the side of bath, Eastbourne, England.
Holding hair after having the remaining hair shaved off, Eastbourne, England.
Back of my head after hair shaved off, Eastbourne, England.
Feeling vulnerable and emotional after hair has finally gone, Eastbourne, England.
Trying on wigs in Brighton, England.
My brother Lee and I at my family home in Eastbourne, England.
Not long after finishing chemotherapy a self-portrait of the aftermath, Eastbourne, England.
The PICC line was taken out after my final treatment due to infection. Weight gain from steroid treatment and other medications visible, Eastbourne, England.
See also:
Godhulikala: India’s Forgotten Elders
By Carly Clarke