RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – During the month of October, photographs of 15 women in treatment for breast cancer will be displayed in five areas of the São Paulo capital, in addition to the cities of Cajamar and Santo André, in the metropolitan area of São Paulo, and in the city of Mirinzal in Maranhão State.
Promoted by the non-governmental organization (NGO) Instituto Viver Hoje, the ‘Mulheres no Espelho – Força e Renascimento’ (“Women in the Mirror – Strength and Rebirth”) exhibition, aims to alert about the importance of early diagnosis of breast cancer and promote the increase of self-esteem of women in treatment.
In addition to seeing the exhibition, visitors will be able to watch video testimonials by the 15 women who took part in the photos, speaking about the greatest challenges in the treatment process and overcoming the disease. With over 60,000 new cases in Brazil each year, breast cancer is one of the most common types of tumors in women.
The 15 women were photographed by professionals in the area. Among them were photographers from the Galeria da Studio Trend Simone Silvério, a specialist in family essays, and Jaiel Prado, a specialist in beauty essays. The project also included the participation of photographer Carla Durante, an underwater essay specialist.
After the closing of the exhibition’s first round, on October 31st, the photos will be exhibited at the Fradique Coutinho subway station, from November 1st to 30th.
According to the president of Instituto Viver Hoje, Cristina Gomes, the Campaign Against Breast Cancer, launched in New York in the 1990s, is growing worldwide with the aim not only of drawing attention to self-examination and the need for rigorous control but also of sharing information, support, and affection.
Cristina founded the non-profit organization after her husband died of lung cancer at 57 in 2015. Her goal is to make people aware of the need to prevent cancer and for early diagnosis of the disease. With the exhibition on breast cancer, the aim is to shock and make people remember the importance of mammography and contact exams.
Self-esteem
The first exhibition was held in 2016, and has been repeated every year. A public institution is chosen for each edition, from which patients are selected who spend a day entirely focused on themselves, with a massage, makeup, wigs, clothes, lunch and socializing with other patients. The photos used in the exhibitions are taken from their experiences.
“This year, patients came from Santa Marcelina Hospital. It was different because it was a photographic rehearsal done, largely, in the water. It was very nice. This kind of event is important because it is a way for them to feel like women again. Bringing out the essence of the woman who suffered from breast cancer, who is mutilated and often no longer feels like herself,” Ms. Gomes said.
Awareness
According to Cristina, these photos are a means to induce people to awareness and questioning. The marketing expert assessed that information is paramount for the prevention and treatment of the disease, because the word cancer still scares people. “When found early on, there is the possibility of a cure. And breast cancer is the one with the highest incidence in our country. Hundreds of women die every year. If you know your body and do the tests, the possibility of detecting it at an early stage and surviving is enormous,” she explains.
For more information about this and other NGO campaigns, visit www.viverhoje.org.