WHEN Sairah Mirza was diagnosed with breast cancer, what struck those close to her was her resilience, courage and optimism, which has remained throughout her treatment.

Her sister, Bradford photographer Nudrat Afza, was so inspired she set about documenting various stages of Sairah’s illness over the past seven years. The result is a series of powerful images called Shadow and Light.

Some of the photographs are being shown daily on Bradford’s Big Screen throughout March and April, in a project highlighting the work of local artists. Called Artist’s Choice, it is organised by Bradford City of Film with Not Just Hockney.

And now a wider selection of Nudrat’s images is to be included in an exhibition called Living With Cancer at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester for six months from October, then London’s Science Museum from May 2022.

“When Sairah was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014 I accompanied her to a few hospital appointments and took some pictures,” says Nudrat. “I have since taken photographs throughout her journey, at different stages of treatment. Despite the serious subject matter, I wanted to show Sairah’s resilience, dignity, openness, trust and hope. She is a truly inspirational woman; she has dealt with her situation with tremendous strength, courage and optimism, and an abundance of love. She has incredible energy and has remained positive. I wanted the photographs to reflect that.”

Sairah is now 50 and continues to have treatment. Nudrat’s photographs were taken while Sairah was undergoing chemotherapy and other treatments, mostly at Bradford Royal Infirmary. The hospital photos were taken pre Covid-19, and since then Nudrat has taken some of Sairah in her garden.

“Initially I was very nervous and emotional about photographing Sairah. Her illness is very close to me,” says Nudrat. “But my work is all about documenting life stories, and I wanted this to be a record for Sairah and her young daughter, Ariana.”

Nudrat is a fulltime carer for her daughter, Khadijah, who has a life-threatening liver condition, and is regularly in hospital. “Last year Khadijah and I both had Covid, and Sairah and Ariana brought us presents and left them in the garden,” says Nudrat.

“Despite her own illness, Sairah continues to think of others - she’s involved in many local community projects, she does volunteering and she is passionate about Bradford. She has just been out with her neighbours and their children, clearing rubbish from back alleys, cutting foliage back and planting new flowers and shrubs.”

The past year has been particularly challenging for cancer patients, with scans and treatments going on hold while Covid cases took priority. Figures from NHS England show that the number of people waiting to start hospital treatment has risen to a new record high - 4.59 million at the end of January.

The figures also show 171,231 urgent cancer referrals were made by GPs in January - an 11per cent drop on the 191,852 in the same month last year. Urgent referrals where breast cancer symptoms were present were down 13 per cent from January 2020.

Bradford-based charity Cancer Support Yorkshire has continued to provide support services to patients and their families during the pandemic. “They have been wonderful, supporting Sairah is all kinds of ways,” says Nudrat. “It is such a frightening time for people with cancer. I really wanted to show Sairah’s resilience and courage - and her sense of fun and optimism.”

Nudrat, a self-taught photographer, uses rolls of film rather than digital equipment. She used an XPan Apart camera, given to her by Oscar-winning screenwriter Simon Beaufoy who got in touch after admiring her City Girls images of female football fans at Valley Parade, which became an exhibition and calendar. Nudrat’s other work includes photographs at Bradford Synagogue, and last year she took a series of images of nursing and care staff at the BRI, while accompanying Khadijah. Nudrat was given permission to photograph staff; capturing remarkable images of them at work. “People take photos on mobiles all the time, but if you have a different looking camera, people can become a bit self-conscious, and you’ve lost the moment. Eventually the staff got used to me being there, and didn’t take much notice of the camera,” says Nudrat. “Some of my pictures of Sairah, such as the one where she’s playfully sticking her tongue out, were taken in a split second.”

The Living With Cancer exhibitions in London and Manchester, will showcase Nudrat’s work nationally. “I couldn’t believe it when it was accepted,” she says. “I hope it will attract a wider range audience - people with an interest in photography and cancer patients too.”

Good to speak with you earlier and this is such an inspirational and powerful story Nudrtat has shared of her sister, Sairah.

Sarah Wood, executive director of Cancer Support Yorkshire, said: "Sairah’s images are so powerful as they allow us an insight into her story of her cancer diagnosis. Sairah has been a part of Cancer Support Yorkshire since 2014 and the power of her story is so invaluable in raising awareness and of reaching out for support. We are so pleased to be part of Sairah’s story being told and for the powerful images Nudrat has captured of Sairah through her different stages living with cancer."

If you need any support, please reach out and contact us on (01274) 776688 or at support@csyorkshire.org.uk