Cancer in Africa

Cancer is a global epidemic. We used to think of cancer as a disease of the wealthy first world, now we see it affects all ages and socio-economic groups, with developing countries bearing a disproportionate burden. It has become the third highest cause of death in Kenya with around 39,000 new cases occurring each year. Lack of awareness, inadequate diagnostic facilities, lack of treatment facilities and the high cost of treatment leads to 70-80% of cancer cases in Kenya being only diagnosed in the very late stages. This personal work documents the challenges and trauma of cancer in the lives of those it affects as exacerbated by the inequality, unemployment and poverty which forms the backbone to the social and economic lives of many Africans. Through their lives this photo series brings forth the deep emotion and pain that come hand in hand with raw beauty, kindness and strength of the human spirit which shines through despite the costs.