Author(s): Hazel Harris
Mentor(s): Fazilat Soukhakian
Institution USU
Cancer, a disease that affects over one million Americans annually, represents more than just a medical condition—it is an all-encompassing experience that reshapes lives. Statistically, approximately 1 in 5 men and 1 in 12 women will succumb to cancer, but the emotional and psychological impact of the disease extends far beyond those directly diagnosed. The ripple effect of cancer reaches millions more through the pain, fear, and heartbreak of those who care for a loved one facing the illness. In many ways, cancer is a shared experience of loss, with families, friends, and caregivers navigating both the foreknowledge of impending death and the profound changes that accompany this journey. This photography project aims to explore and document the emotional and psychological toll of cancer on the families and loved ones who surround the patient. Specifically, I seek to understand how these individuals cope with the loss of normalcy and how they adapt to the ongoing stresses of a loved one’s illness. Through a series of intimate, carefully composed photographs, I will examine the grieving process, both before and after a loved one dies, revealing the complexities of anticipatory grief and the painful realities that accompany loss. The images will focus on the physical items and environments that serve as symbols of memory and survival: hospital beds, medications, personal belongings, photographs, and the everyday objects that take on new significance in the context of a cancer diagnosis. These seemingly mundane objects often become imbued with meaning, serving as reminders of the person they once knew, the person they are losing, and the hope that persists even in the face of an inevitable future. The objects in these photographs will not only document the struggles of the cancer patient but also the emotional states of the loved ones who care for them, as they wrestle with their own grief, fear, and exhaustion. In addition to examining the tangible remnants of a person’s life, this project will also capture the emotional landscapes of those left behind—moments of stillness, quiet reflection, or the physical act of caregiving. These photographs will depict the weight of living with loss, not only in the moments following death but throughout the entire cancer journey, during the long process of anticipating what is to come. There is a unique and profound grief that occurs before death, as families experience the gradual erosion of a loved one’s health and identity. Through my lens, I aim to offer a more nuanced and empathetic portrayal of this experience, one that acknowledges the invisible pain that is often overlooked in discussions about cancer. This project seeks to shed light on the broader emotional experience of those who support cancer patients, revealing the resilience and vulnerability of caregivers and loved ones alike. By focusing on the physical objects and circumstances that signify a battle with cancer, I intend to provide a visual language that speaks to the shared experience of loss—whether that loss is still unfolding, or has already taken its irreversible toll. This is not merely a project about cancer; it is an exploration of the universal human experience of grief, love, and survival. In offering this artistic commemoration, I hope to create a space for reflection and understanding. The photographs will act as a visual document of both personal and collective endurance, capturing the moments of struggle and strength that occur in the shadow of loss. This project is an effort to humanize the often-overlooked emotional landscape of those who live with cancer’s impact—not just the patients, but also the families, caregivers, and friends who are left to navigate the emotional terrain of watching someone they love suffer and, ultimately, fade away. Ultimately, the goal of this project is to foster empathy and deeper understanding, providing a platform for voices and experiences that often go unheard. Through photography, I aim to offer a more complete view of the emotional toll that cancer takes—not only on the body of the patient but also on the hearts and minds of those who love them. It is a meditation on the act of living through loss, and an attempt to capture the raw, unspoken realities of navigating a journey that no one ever fully prepares for.