Julia Cumes Photography

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Rise Above: Exploring the Many Faces of Breast Cancer on Cape Cod

16 images Created 12 Aug 2018

Since my early days as a young girl growing up in apartheid-era South Africa, I seemed to be drawn to photographing women and girls. In search of my own identity and place in society, looking through my lens at the lives of other girls and women helped me navigate my way into adulthood and shaped my perception of the world and all its complexities. As I advanced in my photography career, I found myself continuing to explore issues of identity and experience, photographing women and girls in countries like Tanzania, India, South Africa, Morocco, Rwanda, the United States and Cuba.
With my most recent project, I integrated my exploration of female identity and experience into an issue I see impacting my own community. Over the years I’ve known so many women on Cape Cod whose lives have been affected by breast cancer and after doing some research, was surprised to discover that women on Cape Cod are diagnosed with breast cancer at a rate 20% higher that the rest of the United States.

A few years ago I photographed local artist, Coco Larrain, the day before she was to have a mastectomy and was inspired by the collaborative experience of capturing her the day before this monumental event in her life. The portrait I made of her is still one I feel so moved by partly because of the unflinching power of her expression coupled with her vulnerability. I felt so honored to have been allowed into that intimate moment in her life.

This new portrait series, inspired by the portrait of Coco, was a collaboration between myself and the women in them and attempts to represent each woman's experience in some unique and expressive way. The accompanying stories are an integral part of each piece so please take a moment to read them. The final photographs are printed on an aluminum surface on a relatively large scale (24”x36). The intent behind the choice of this print medium is to create the effect of the women being present in the gallery space, as if to participate in the show and give voice to their own experiences.

My hope is that this portrait series will work to create awareness and stimulate dialog about cancer and its impact on women’s lives in our Cape Cod community and lastly, inspire people visually and emotionally.
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  • Six years ago, I photographed artist, Coco Larrain, 57, at her home in Brewster, MA, the day before she had a mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. This image of Coco, which was included in multiple exhibits I had about women's experiences around the world, was the catalyst for my series exploring the many faces of breast cancer on Cape Cod. Coco documented her first encounter with breast cancer years before through painting and drawing. “I’ve often done self-portraits, and documenting myself going through cancer treatments helped me get outside of what I was feeling,” she explains. "It was helpful because my focus was on the act of making art rather than on feeling sick.  Also, I figured I would never be bald again so why not paint myself while I was?!" she adds, laughing.  Ten years after her first cancer, Coco was once again diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy and a transdermal flap reconstruction. It took five surgeries to complete the process which involved taking skin and muscle from her back.  "I photographed myself during the entire experience. One of my ideas was to make a book to help others see the process before deciding to go forward with it themselves," she recalls. "Going through breast cancer twice changed my entire attitude and made me so much more grateful to be alive and healthy,” she adds.
    Coco_Larrain.jpg
  • Musician, Sarah Burrill, 57, is photographed in her home in Eastham, MA. She was diagnosed with stage 4 inflammatory breast cancer at the age of 40.  "I was in shock when I found out and did everything under the sun. I had two rounds of high dose chemotherapy and a mastectomy; I did herbs and glyconutrients; I even had myself energetically erased!" she exclaims. Sarah got an enormous amount of support from her community which hosted six fundraisers for her. "I’d go out just for hugs and to have connection with people even though I looked quite scary," she recalls. Sarah eventually had her other breast removed because she didn’t want to have reconstructive surgery and was tired of medical procedures. "I did mourn both of them but it’s okay at this point," she says. The tattoos she now has on her chest represent her connection to her sister, whose ashes are buried under the cherry tree in her yard and her mother, whose ashes are buried under the dogwood. "Music really helped sustain me when I was going through treatment," Sarah explains. "I brought my guitar to the hospital and when I was too sick, I watched the Beatles anthology videos".  Sarah wrote the song "Rise Above"--from which this project's title comes--for the Cape Cod Women's Music Festival a few years ago. The lyrics became a local anthem for women going through breast cancer. "So put your hands in our hands, we’ll walk together strong and we'll kick some ass, we’ll rise above and we’ll carry-on," she sings.
    Sarah_Burrill-001.jpg
  • Musician and Cape Wellness Collaborative founder, Sarah Swain, 44, is photographed in her Harwich home with her three children, from left, Jessie, 10, Lucy, 12 and Stanley, 4. Sarah's mother, grandmother and uncle all passed away from cancer which was the impetus for starting Cape Wellness Collaborative--a non-profit organization that provides integrative wellness therapies for people on the Cape and Islands facing cancer. "Ironically, I never got around to getting mammograms, I think they subconsciously terrified me due to my family history. After admitting this to my board members, they pretty much forced me to get one," she explains. While Sarah's mammogram showed no signs of cancer, she was urged to get genetically tested and discovered she had the CALP2 gene, a rare gene mutation that carries the same risks for cancer as the BRCA2 gene. 'What to do with this information is a very personal decision," she explains. "After losing my mother to cancer when she was 52, it came down to me doing everything in my power to help ensure I am here for my kids," she says. Weeks before this photo was taken Sarah underwent a prophylactic double mastectomy and oophorectomy (removal of ovaries and tubes). Around the same time that Sarah found out about her genetic mutation, her husband, Steve, had a heart attack and also discovered he has a genetic heart defect. "He had to have surgery a few months before me and it was a very intense time for the family," she recalls. "It really makes you aware of what you hold most precious in life," she says. Sarah and her husband decided they needed to decompress and reconnect as a family by taking some time away from their lives. "We took six months and went on a sailing trip down the inter-coastal waterway then through Bahamas and homeschooled the kids," she explains. "It was amazing---the best thing we ever did as a family!" she adds.
    Sarah_Swain.jpg
  • Darlene Hoyt, 67, is photographed in the home she shares with her husband in West Yarmouth, MA. Darlene was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer four years ago during an annual mammogram.  When more atypical cells were found after two lumpectomies, Darlene underwent a double mastectomy. She recently got a hummingbird tattooed on her left breast area by well-known Cape Cod tattoo artist, Mark Corliss. "I wore my mastectomy forms for three years. Once I knew I was getting my tattoo, I stopped wearing them. It just felt so false to me. Why pretend to have body parts that I didn't have anymore?  For me, this artwork feels more authentic. I got to change the ending of the story, so to speak," she explains. When the tattoo project is complete, there will be a dragonfly on Darlene's right breast and some words underneath that are meaningful to her. "I love the tattoo because instead of there being an absence of something, there is an addition of something beautiful," she says.
    Darlene_Hoyt.jpg
  • From left, sisters Marilyn DiLillo, 74, and Carol DePalma, 78, are photographed in Marilyn’s home in Yarmouthport, MA. The sisters grew up in East Walpole, MA. Marilyn was diagnosed with stage three breast cancer 24 years ago and again last year and Carol was diagnosed with a serious sarcoma 24 years ago. They are the only remaining members of their immediate family; their siblings and parents were diagnosed with various types of cancer. Genetic testing on Marilyn ruled out any hereditary predisposition to cancer. “We believe our cancers are due to environmental factors. There was an asbestos shingle factory nearby and our home bordered a park where DDT was sprayed nightly during the polio epidemic. We all played in that park,” Marilyn explains. While Carol lives in Florida and Marilyn on Cape Cod, the sisters are close and visit each other frequently. “It’s comforting to spend time together,” adds Marilyn, who just finished treatment for her second bout of breast cancer.
    Marilyn_Carol.jpg
  • Gigi Ridgley, 78 years, is photographed at her home in Sagamore, MA. She was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer two years go after getting her annual mammogram  "I credit my doctor for being so thorough and for catching it early," she says. Her mother, aunt and grandmother all had cancer so the diagnosis didn't surprise her too much. Gigi moved to the Cape after marrying her late husband, Alda, in the 1980s and still lives in the house they shared together and that she still loves. "It was actually an old boarding house--the only house he could buy at the time because he was black and people didn't want to sell to him," she explains. "He spoiled me every day and I still miss him terrible," she adds. Gigi has a collection of wigs which she wears daily. "I've always loved wigs and it's nice being able to choose what hair to wear!" she says, laughing. She also belongs to the Red Hat Society, which was founded on the idea of women growing older playfully and on their own terms. "I enjoy connecting with the other women and having lunch out together," she says, surrounded by her collection of beautiful red hats.
    Gigi_Ridgley.jpg
  • Sally Largey 51, is photographed in the home she shares with her 16 year-old son, John Patrick, and cat, Sly, in Eastham, MA. Sally, who has no family history of breast cancer and no genetic markers, was diagnosed with stage T1c, multi focal, invasive breast cancer in 2017. Three lymph nodes were positive. She had a mastectomy as well as radiation treatments. "My son was my motivation to keep it together," she says. "To break the news to him I referred to World War Z, a zombie apocalypse movie we watched together. The zombies wouldn't attack ill people so I told him that at least I would survive a zombie invasion" she laughs. Sally works at a senior center and said when she returned to work, several women came up to her and told her they'd also gone through it--perhaps a testament to Cape Cod's high breast cancer rate.. "The hardest part was worrying I wouldn't be here for my son and also losing part of my body. I just try to keep swimming," Sally explains. "When a dark cloud appears, suddenly all my blessings shine through and I am grateful," she adds.
    Sally_LargeyJPG.JPG
  • Kay Delaney, 77, is photographed in the West Yarmouth library where she volunteers and feels most at home. Kay was diagnosed with invasive lobular breast cancer, stage two on a Friday the 13th in 2017. "I somehow always thought I would get it since my mother had it and died so young," she explains.  Kay had a mastectomy, lymph node removal and chemo treatments  "I'm a nurse and found the hospital staffl to be so nice and respectful," she says. She decided against reconstructive surgery since, at her age, she felt body image was no longer an issue. Kay who is a great appreciator of books and her community library, was thrilled when she was able to return to volunteering at the West Yarmouth library. "When I was going through treatment, even when I lost my hair, the library was my grip on "normalcy".  It gave me hope and the feeling that I was getting back to where I'm happy and contributing to my community," she adds.
    Kay_Delaney.jpg
  • Lauren Elliott-Grunes, 51, is photographed surrounded by the waterlilies of Greenland Pond near her home in Brewster, MA. She was diagnosed with two triple negative, stage 3B breast cancers, one when she was 34 and then another 10 years later. “At 34 I was pregnant for the first time and was told I had to abort the pregnancy or I wouldn't be alive to raise my child," she recalls. Lauren refused to give up on her pregnancy and sought a doctor who would be willing to treat her with the pregnancy. After chemotherapy and a mastectomy, she successfully delivered her daughter, Katie, now 16. "I really wanted to breast feed but couldn't due to the radiation and chemo.  I found these amazing women who we call our "milk mamas.  Over twenty incredible women donated their breast milk and fed my daughter for two years,” she says. The second diagnosis was followed by more chemotherapy, a second mastectomy then radiation.  Lauren chose not to have reconstruction. “These are scars I'm proud of…I kicked cancer's ass twice. They are a symbol of strength” she explains.  Lauren wanted to be photographed in water because water is an essential part of her life.  "Not only do I teach swimming but the water has always been a healing place for me," she explains.  Every year, on the anniversary of the day she was first diagnosed, she, her daughter and her 83-year-old mother swim a mile to raise funds for the Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition.
    Lauren_Elliot_Grunes.jpg
  • Singer/song-writer, Kim Moberg, 58, is framed by the 102 year-old Steinway grand piano in her home in Centerville, MA. When Kim and her husband were trying to have a second child years ago, she discovered a lump. She was put on tamoxifen and had a lumpectomy and thought everything was fine. "Soon after that my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer and died shortly after at the age of 63; then my younger sister was diagnosed at 41 and died after a long struggle with it," she explains. Kim got genetically tested and discovered the had the BRCA2 genetic mutation. Since it put her at extremely high risk of developing cancer, she knew she had to have a double mastectomy and ovary removal. "My husband, Rob is my rock and he did everything during that time period after the surgeries so I could concentrate on getting better," she says. Kim, who was born in Alaska and whose mother is Native America (Tlingit), grew up surrounded by music. "My mother was a classical pianist and taught me guitar when I was around 13 years-old," she recalls. "I'm drawn to musical stories that tug at feelings of melancholy, heartbreak and healing," says Kim whose two daughters too have embraced music. While her younger daughter, Rebecca, is adopted, she knows her older daughter, Rachel, will too have to be genetically tested and potentially make decisions about risk factor health choices when she gets older.
    Kim_Moberg.jpg
  • Uelia Hayward, 42, is photographed in the home she shares with her husband John, in Eastham, MA. Uelia grew up in the Philippines and came to the United States in 2001. Her very first routine mammogram revealed a tumor. "I never drank or smoked, and led a very active lifestyle. I was lucky in that my OBGYN insisted that her patients start screening at 40, and not the new guidelines of 45. I would probably not be here now otherwise," she says. She was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), stage 2B. This form of breast cancer is particularly aggressive and complex to treat. "I had a terrible reaction to the chemo and ended up in the emergency room after my first infusion. That night my husband was despairing, wondering how we were going to do one more session, let alone the fifteen scheduled. I was too out of it to recall," she explains. "What helped get me through it was my husband and mom, practicing yoga, and taking long walks. Having strong support is so critical to surviving this disease. I will be eternally grateful for the support of my loved ones during my treatment and
    Uelia_Hayward.JPG
  • Meadow Hilley, 45, was diagnosed with stage three  invasive ductal carcinoma at the age of 41. Her daughters, then just 3 and 5 years old, watched their mom experience the effects of chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, and targeted medicine over the course of eighteen months. "When my hair grew back different, the girls asked me how long before I'd look like 'Old Mommy' again," she recalls. "Now they have come to accept that certain things about me will never be the same. The ordeal changed me," Meadow insists, “for the better. The encounter with my own mortality brought a sort of clarity, making it easier to chart a course forward while knowing that, at any moment, the wind and waves could carry us far adrift. Navigating cancer has taught me how to right the ship.” Here, Meadow is photographed in the Brewster meadow she considers her primal place. “This was the nexus of my childhood universe,” she says. "I come here to center myself." Told that the cause of her breast cancer was likely environmental, Meadow wonders, "What have we done to this place, and to ourselves?" For her, recovery is not just a personal journey, it is a collective responsibility.
    Meadow_Hilley.jpg
  • Wendy Mullin, 63, is photographed at her home in Centerville, MA. Wendy, who grew up on Nantucket, has the PALB2 gene mutation which gives her an 80% chance of getting breast cancer. She is currently undergoing treatment for invasive intraductal breast cancer and has had a double mastectomy as well lymph node removal and chemotherapy treatments. She still has a variety of treatments ahead of her. "One of the more freeing moments of my breast cancer journey was the day I had my head shaved," Wendy explains. "I felt empowered by taking this step as it was far less unnerving than observing my hair falling out each day," she adds. Wendy has always been a lover of plants, nature and the outdoors and tries to spend as much time as she can enjoying them. "I have found peace and serenity in caring for and being among my indoor and outdoor plants and garden," she adds.
    Wendy_Mullin.jpg
  • Kelly bohl, 53, is photographed in her home in Brewster, MA with photographs of her two children, Kierstyn and Jared. She was diagnosed with early stage breast cancer at the age of 49 and was treated with a a lumpectomy, lymph node removal, radiation and chemotherapy. "The hardest part was telling my children and worrying that I wouldn't be around around for them," she says. Kelly, who is a third grade teacher and also does dance, yoga, meditation and is a reiki practitioner, decided to go back to teaching third grade before her hair had even grown in.  "I used this experience as an opportunity to reevaluate my life and find the positive," she says. "My family, friends and community were amazing during my treatment. They definitely helped give me the strength to fight," she adds.
    Kelly_Bohl.jpg
  • Christine Ernst, 52, is photographed with her daughter, Julia, 9, in their home in Sandwich, MA. Christine was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer at the age of 34. Her doctors encouraged her to do reconstruction immediately after her mastectomy but she resisted. "I was a single mother to my older daughter, Marney. Reconstructive surgery was drastic with a long recuperation and some permanent serious side effects. Marney was 6 and I didn't want to waste any more time recovering," she explains. "I didn’t feel disfigured. I thought of it more like a badge of honor. I was so mad, and I wanted other women to know that it could happen to them." Christine went on to write a play two years later that she performed with Marney all over New England called “Reconstruction, or how I learned to pay attention.” Since then she's written and performed  many more one-woman shows and has become well-known as the "Fat Ass Cancer Bitch," the brand catalyzed by a neighbor who called her a "fat ass cancer bitch" during a dispute (they have since reconciled). She describes her work as "part stand-up, part rant, part sermon." "I believe in sharing the story and paying it forward. The story will save us all," she adds.
    Christine_Ernst.jpg
  • Stephanie Whitehead, 40, is photographed on moving day in her and her family's new home in South Yarmouth, MA. Two years ago, Stephanie was experiencing extreme hip pain and sought medical attention. Doctors couldn't find the cause of the pain and so she went to a chiropractor. When, a few weeks later, she found she couldn't get out of bed due to pain, she was transported to the hospital by ambulance and after a catscan, she learned she had stage four metastatic breast cancer.  "Metastatic cancer means the cancer has already moved to other parts of my body," she explains. "I was told I had a 22% chance of making it five years". Stephanie was treated with radiation, chemotherapy and endochrine therapies to try slow further metastasis.  "Dying isn't an option for me. I've always been the one that takes care of my family so I have to keep going, My children lost their father at the age of 5 and 8 so I have to be here for them," she explains. Stephanie and her now husband, DJ, were recently able to purchase the house in Yarmouth through an affordable housing program. "I had two things on my bucket list--owning our own home and going to California and both them are being accomplished this summer. I guess I need to make a new bucket list," she says, laughing. Stephanie has signed releases for her tissue and data to be used by "The Metastatic Breast Cancer Project"--a research project seeking to better understand and find therapies for this virulent form of cancer. "It may not save me but it could save someone else," she says.
    Staphanie_Whitehead.jpg
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