The powerful images show fourteen women who have stood up to cancer.

They bravely showed their mastectomy scars to prove to the world they would not be defined by the disease.

The women of all ages from across the UK took part in the inspiration photoshoot for Stand Up To Cancer, showing their surgical scars in a series of honest portraits.

The project, called ‘Mastectomy’, has been released as part of the Stand Up To Cancer campaign and marks the beginning of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Launched in the UK in 2012, Stand Up To Cancer is a joint fundraising campaign from Cancer Research UK and Channel 4, raising money to support game-changing cancer research that will help save lives.

Sharon Brunt, 46, from Bath, said: “I think we all want to feel useful and whilst going through cancer was horrific for me and those closest to me, it feels so good when you’re given the opportunity to do something positive with that experience” (
Image:
Ami Barwell)
Anonymous, 47, from the West Midlands, said: “I hope people will see beyond our surgeries, we’re still perfectly normal people that have families, jobs and live the best life that we can” (
Image:
Ami Barwell)
Deborah Williams, 53, from Droitwich Spa, Worcestershire, said: “By sharing my photos publicly I hope that awareness of breast cancer is raised and that no matter what scarring there is, we’re still beautiful women" (
Image:
Ami Barwell)

Shot by Ami Barwell, 39, a York-based photographer, the project was inspired by Ami’s mum, Sue, who was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993.

She underwent a mastectomy, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy, then in 2011 the cancer returned in her lymph nodes.

Sue, 69, was treated again with chemotherapy and has since made a full recovery.

Photographer Ami said: “It was absolutely devastating when my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Anonymous, 53, from North Yorkshire, said: “I want to show everyone that it's OK to live without a boob or two, it wasn't my choice to follow this path but I did choose to make the most of what I have and to get on with life” (
Image:
Ami Barwell)
Fiona O’Donnell, 44, from Northampton, said: “I feel so proud of the pictures, if I manage to save just one life having taken part, then I’ve achieved something” (
Image:
Ami Barwell)
Gillian Trim, 55, from London, said: “I want to show those women who are going through their cancer journey that it is doable, not easy, but with time and acceptance you can get through it and that we are still sexy and beautiful" (
Image:
Ami Barwell)

"I wanted to shoot this project to raise awareness and show the defiance of women who remain equally as beautiful without breasts."

“Stand Up To Cancer is about bringing people together to rebel and rise up against cancer.

"The photographs show that, despite what they’ve been through, these women are empowered. They are strong, happy and sexy.”

Joanna Reynolds, 46, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne: “Some women I know both personally and professionally have struggled with their body image following breast cancer surgery and treatment, I wanted to show that women can still celebrate their bodies after cancer” (
Image:
Ami Barwell)
Caroline Harper, pictured before her second mastectomy, 59, from Brancaster, Norfolk, said: “I want other women to know that having reconstruction is not the only option and I love the freedom of being flat” (
Image:
Ami Barwell)

Amongst the women photographed is Gillian Trim, 55, from London, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and has had a double mastectomy.

She said: “I wanted to take part not only to show other people that you can still be sexy and beautiful after a mastectomy but also to celebrate my own journey and to remind myself how strong I am.”

Mel Johnston, 46, from Merseyside, was diagnosed in 2014 with breast cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes.

Clare, 48, from north Lincolnshire, said: “I wanted to get involved to help raise awareness of breast cancer and to show that choosing to live flat is a positive choice” (
Image:
Ami Barwell)

She had treatment including chemotherapy and surgery but last year, doctors discovered the cancer had spread to both lungs, and is now incurable.

She said: “I’m so proud to be part of this project. Stand Up To Cancer is all about sticking two fingers up at cancer and I think Ami’s captured that beautifully.

“I wanted to be involved partly because, when it comes to new experiences, the word ‘no’ is no longer in my vocabulary.

Anonymous, 54, from Newcastle, said: “I’m proud of my scars, they mean I'm surviving and a reminder to do things when I can and not to put things off, if you get a letter for your mammogram, don’t ignore it, I don’t know where I’d be if I hadn’t gone”

"Since having cancer I want to embrace every opportunity that comes my way and really live life to the max. But I also want to demystify mastectomy scars.

"I’m still a woman and I wanted to show that breasts do not define my sexuality or gender. I’m still me despite having a part of my body missing.”

Rachel Carr, head of Stand Up To Cancer at Cancer Research UK, said: “We’re honoured to share this incredible project showing truly inspirational women.

Lucy Verinder, 44, from Wakefield, West Yorkshire, said: “This project for Stand Up To Cancer shows women that the world doesn't end because you have to have a breast removed or both, that life can go on”

"And we’re grateful to all of them for being part of it. Ami’s powerful images perfectly capture their strength and defiance.

“We’ve made amazing progress against cancer over the past few decades, but we know that one in two people in the UK will receive a cancer diagnosis in their lifetime, so we can’t afford to slow down.

"We hope these images will inspire the nation to join the rebellion and help fund our ground-breaking research so that we can help save more lives, faster.”

Jan Poole, 50, from Hereford, said: “I got quite emotional as I know the message these will portray to people is definitely positive and will give them hope to fight and remain positive themselves” (
Image:
Ami Barwell)

The Stand Up To Cancer campaign will continue throughout October and there are lots of ways that people can get involved.

From being a ‘hair raiser’ and waxing or shaving body parts to raise cash, to dusting off aprons to create and sell ‘ballsy bakes’, or getting sponsored to take part in ‘Game On’, Stand Up To Cancer’s gaming marathon, there’s more than one way to rebel this autumn.

There were around 55,200 cases of breast cancer diagnosed in the UK in 2014 and around 11,200 deaths from the disease in 2015.

In 2010-11, around 78% of women in England and Wales survived their breast cancer for 10 years or more.

Mel Johnston, 46, from Merseyside, said: “I’m still a woman and I wanted to show that breasts do not define my sexuality or gender, I’m still me despite having a part of my body missing” (
Image:
Ami Barwell)

Stand Up To Cancer's research trials and projects into breast cancer include developing drugs to stop cancer cells ‘shape-shifting’ and spreading, using a simple blood test to uncover individual cancer’s weaknesses and target treatments, testing a new type of drug to see if it can stop breast cancers coming back, and using artificial intelligence to analyse how advanced a cancer is.

More information about Stand Up To Cancer is available here.

If you or someone close to you has been affected by cancer and you’ve got questions, you can call Cancer Research UK's nurses for free on 0808 800 4040, open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm.

More information on Ami's work is available here.