Our journey with Burden of Concealment: The Diagnosed, The Caregiver, and Their Son began from a place of profound personal vulnerability. When Anna was diagnosed with breast cancer, our family’s lives shifted in ways we couldn’t have imagined. As a caregiver, Jordan found himself grappling with the overwhelming responsibility of support, while Anna navigated the physical and emotional toll of treatment. Together, we turned to photography as a way to process these challenges—not as a solution, but as a conversation. The camera became both witness and bridge, capturing the raw, unspoken dynamics of illness, caregiving, and family.

Burden of Concealment is more than a documentation of this experience; it’s an exploration of the often-hidden emotional and relational complexities of living with illness in a fragmented healthcare system. Central to this is the impact of cancer on fertility—a loss we never anticipated facing. The project delves into the topic of oncofertility, shedding light on the unique intersection of cancer treatment and reproductive health. Through our collaborative work, we aim to amplify conversations about fertility preservation and the lasting emotional implications of these decisions, particularly for younger patients.

Art, we’ve learned, has the power to humanize the clinical. It creates space for deeper empathy and connection where data alone cannot. By sharing our story visually, we aim to invite dialogue—not just about cancer, but about the broader intersections of healthcare, identity, and relationships. Our work resonates not only as a reflection of our experiences but also as a testament to the untold stories of patients, caregivers, and families navigating similar journeys.

The intersection of art and healthcare is, at its core, about storytelling. It’s about shifting perspectives, challenging stigma, and fostering understanding. Our hope is that Burden of Concealment becomes a catalyst for these conversations, a resource for education and advocacy, and a testament to the strength found in vulnerability.

Through collaborations with medical institutions, universities, and nonprofits, we continue to explore how visual storytelling can not only document but actively shape the narrative of illness and care. By addressing deeply personal issues such as oncofertility, we aim to expand the conversation beyond survival, bringing attention to the quality of life and the decisions that patients and caregivers face long after treatment ends.

Burden of Concealment reminds us that art is not just an end product; it’s a process of healing, connection, and change—for both of us as partners, and for the broader community who shares in these stories.