Surviving and navigating a cancer diagnosis is a shared experience between the person with the illness, and those nearest who are supporting and who are also changed. Yet so much of what is visually represented is a compartmentalized, incorrect, one-dimensional view, tidied up for cultural consumption. It often focuses on the early stages, or beating cancer, or losing the fight. But what about everything in-between and the ongoing challenges this community faces trying to return to a normal that no longer exists?
Unable to find imagery that was relatable and authentic about a young family navigating cancer, photographers Anna and Jordan Rathkopf turned the camera on each other and themselves after Anna’s diagnosis at the age of 37 with an aggressive form of breast cancer. ‘HER2‘ is an ongoing visual conversation told through the utterly unique dual perspective of the experience as a husband-and-wife team, showing both the ways in which there is a deep bond in shared survival while also highlighting their parallel, isolated traumas amidst layers of grief and joy.
The Rathkopfs’ project includes intimate photographs taken at home, in hospital settings, and with their son, providing a raw look at how a chronic serious diagnosis impacts every aspect of life – relationships, parenting, marriage, work and childhood. These images offer a fuller picture of the emotional and daily realities of illness, from the perspective of the diagnosed, the caregiver and the child, inviting viewers to witness and understand the complexity of survivorship, vulnerability, and resilience.
As Anna notes in her essay for the book, “There’s pressure to embody strength and beauty, even when ill. Yet, I don’t feel like a warrior or beautiful. I’m just doing what I must to survive. I’ve learned that gratitude can coexist with pain. And I can feel happiness and anger simultaneously. I can be loved even when I don’t love myself.” Anna’s self-portraits and photographs of her family and the natural world redefine the breast cancer experience from the patient’s perspective.
The book’s title alludes to the dual experience of navigating this experience as both the diagnosed and the caregiver, as well as co-creators of this book. It also references one of the specific subtypes of cancer Anna was diagnosed with.
HER2 has been honored by the International Photographic Council at the United Nations, marking the first time in the Council’s 50-year history the award has gone to a couple. The Rathkopfs have also committed much of their professional career to telling the health stories of others in pursuit of health equity and inclusive representation of illness. Jordan recently founded a non-profit called the Patient Caregiver Artist Coalition with a mission to create more authenticity and inclusivity in how illness is portrayed.
We had the opportunity to speak with Anna about her breast cancer journey, the decision to share intimate family photos with the world, and the message she wants to share with others going through a similar situation right now.
What made you want to put this photography project together initially?
At first, it was driven by fear—I didn’t know if I’d see my son grow up, and I wanted him to remember me. Over time, it evolved into a way for my husband and me to communicate visually and understand what we were going through. When I reached the five-year mark, which is often seen as a major milestone for cancer survivors, I felt more lost than ever. That’s when I realized the need for this project—to capture the emotional complexity of cancer, even years after treatment.
You and your family share some very vulnerable moments and emotions in the images. Why was it important for you to share so publicly the intimate moments that we don’t often see?
Sharing the reality of illness and survivorship is crucial to me because the emotional weight often goes unspoken. We’ve recently seen this with Princess Kate and Prince William, who, despite their wealth, resources, and status, face the burden of concealment—the need to protect their private pain. Me, as a mother, I intimately understand the challenge of explaining to a young child what’s happening—why mommy is less available, why mommy is so tired.
It’s a delicate balance of shielding them from the harsh reality while also being honest about the changes in our lives. William’s journey resonates with me too. Losing his mother as a child and now facing his wife’s illness mirrors some of what Jordan experienced. When I was diagnosed, Jordan had to confront the trauma of his own mother’s cancer, which deeply affected him as a partner and father. Illness doesn’t discriminate. It affects every family, regardless of status, and each person faces their struggles.
We deeply empathize with anyone diagnosed, as well as their loved ones, and believe that everyone has the right to keep their health journey as private or as public as they feel comfortable. That’s why Jordan and I share our story— to let others know they’re not alone in these struggles. By being open, we want to shift the conversation around illness to recognize the emotional and physical challenges that don’t disappear when treatment ends and to offer support for those who choose to share or keep their experiences private.
Can you talk a bit about how HER2 was also your way of reclaiming your power? And explain what was the most disempowering aspect of your journey that you wanted to counteract?
HER2 is about reclaiming my power after feeling completely powerless during my cancer journey. The greatest betrayal was the loss of my fertility and the second child I had always dreamed of having. My son is now asking, “Why don’t I have siblings?” and it’s something that I still grieve seven years later. That loss continues to shape our lives, and through the project, I was able to take back some control by sharing our story, even the parts that are the most painful. Facing my own losses gave me a space to grieve and process what happened.
Sharing that feeling of upheaval, loss, and disruption to our planned future has connected me with so many parents and women who feel the same. This brings solace in some way. We are not alone. The transparency builds community and community empowers people to change policies, practices, and most importantly how cancer is depicted by media organizations, pharmaceutical brands, and hospital PR efforts. We are aiming for honesty and reality and feel this work will change the way people see illness. “Staying positive” and Warrior Narratives are not the way forward.
Were there any images that were hard for you to look back at in the process of making final selects for the book?
Yes, many. The self-portraits where I hardly recognized myself were difficult, but it was even harder to look back at how much of our son’s early years were clouded by my illness. There are photos of moments I can barely remember due to chemo brain and the trauma of that time. Seeing those images brought back the pain of realizing how much was lost during that period–not just for me, but for him as well. But I soon learned how many people needed to see those photos to share their own experiences without feeling isolated or burdened.
The title of the book is a reference to the dual perspectives shared through you and your husband, but also the specific type of cancer diagnosis. Can you give us a little more info about this diagnosis?
Yes, HER2 refers to the a type of breast cancer I was diagnosed with—HER2-positive. It’s an aggressive form, but treatments have improved greatly over the years. The title also reflects the dual perspectives in the book—my own experience as the person diagnosed and my husband’s as a caregiver and partner.
HER2 embodies so many layers of emotions—grief, joy, trauma, resilience, and more. How do you hope these images will dismantle the single narratives that often get attached to cancer stories (the “brave” the “warrior” etc.)?
I hope these images show that cancer is not just about “bravery” or “fighting.” It’s messy, painful, and often isolating. The idea of being a warrior (the Warrior Narrative, especially in the United States) over simplifies what is a much more complex and nuanced experience. I want people to see the real ups and downs—the moments of fear, grief, but also the small moments of joy and connection that are often overlooked. By seeing our photos, our journals and our experience as a family unit, we open up dialogue with people who were previously afraid to share their reality.
We’ve started to see a number of high-profile women and celebs share their breast cancer stories publicly, and what’s shocking is how young many of these women are. Given your experience and the project you have made, what is the larger impact of storytelling around awareness, whether it be through articles, social media, books, etc.?
Storytelling is crucial, but it’s not just about raising awareness–it’s about asking the right questions and pointing out what needs to be done to provide real support to the patient-caregiver community. As more young people face cancer, we need to focus on the long-term impacts, both emotional and financial, and the systems that need to change to support those going through it. Our project aims to bring those conversations to the forefront and push for tangible changes in how we care for and support those affected.
With Princess Kate at the center of the Under 50 dialogue now, movies with A-List actors being released “We Live in Time” starring Florence Pugh, Andrew Garfield) and so many people paying attention to studies being released on this topic, our book and related exhibitions are adding to that conversation. How can we prevent cancer? What policies will support families rather than distress them in their time of need? How should people respond to patients? How can we enact Paid Medical Leave, Single Payer, and point people to Mental Health services expediently? These are the solutions we’d like to discuss–not just the problems.
What do you hope people who buy this book will feel, realize, or connect with when they see your family images?
I hope people see the complexity of emotions that come with illness. It’s not just about being strong or grateful–there’s grief, fear, anger, and love all mixed together. This book shows how cancer affects not just the person diagnosed, but everyone around them. I want others to feel seen in their own struggles and know it’s okay to experience all those emotions. You don’t have to hide them to still find moments of love and connection.
Our book is a family effort, created through the lens of our relationships, struggles, and deep love. We found strength in unexpected places, but love–sometimes inconvenient and hard–is at the heart of our experience. We cannot gloss over the strength relationships require when ill.
There are fights, tears, and fear, but that’s the glue, and love is the triumph.
We invite people to feel whatever they need to feel. We’re not here to tell anyone how to feel, and that’s at the core of our message.
You talk about HER2 allowing you to define yourself as you are, not through the eyes of others. How do you define yourself today?
Right now, I’m still figuring that out. I’ve learned that being more comfortable with my vulnerability is where I am at the moment. It’s an ongoing process, and I’m allowing myself the space to grow into that understanding. Focusing on this book now has been a critical part of that process and I just felt the need to finally face a lot of what I’ve been trying to conceal. I invite people to reach out to us–and especially men/partners/husbands to express and engage. We have lectures, exhibitions, events and talks scheduled throughout 2025 so reach out, connect and share your story with us.
You can buy a copy of ‘HER2’ from Daylight Books HERE. See more of Anna and Jordan Rathkopf’s work on their photography website and follow Rathkopf Photography on Instagram.
