Letter To My Loved Ones: Portraits Of Breast Cancer Survivors

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 19: (EDITORS NOTE: Image contains nudity) Lizzi England, 30 years old, photographed in her bedroom at home with her nine month old daughter, Violet on September 19,2020 in Northamptonshire, England. "Lizzi was diagnosed with breast cancer while pregnant with her third child, and had a mastectomy and chemotherapy during pregnancy. 'One day I noticed a lump, and I called the GP. They got me in quite quickly, but I was met with 'no, you're too young... The changes are likely to be hormonal. This is not going to be breast cancer. So we want you to come back if you're still worried and we'll go from there." I went back. I was still worried, and they reluctantly sent me for a referral. And yeah, when I was referred, I was diagnosed with stage two, grade three, breast cancer... I won't be the first person diagnosed under the age of 30. I sure as hell won't be the last. And if they're going to be diagnosed, let's get them diagnosed early because early detection really does save lives. "...I want to tell Violet how hard I fought to keep her. It was never an option to not have her if it meant dealing with treatment. That's exactly what I would have done. I need to her to know just how special she is to have come through this journey with me and how proud I am of her. She grew exactly the way she needed to grow. And when she was here, and I was able to hold my arms--I didn't want anything bad to happen to her, and I really struggled with that in the first few weeks of her life." (Photo by Lynsey Addario/Getty Images Reportage)