Abstract:

We all know someone who has been impacted by breast cancer. As of 2020, 7.8 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer in the prior five years, making it the world?s most prevalent cancer (WHO, 2021). In the UK, one-in-seven women will be diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime (NSC, 2019), with 30% requiring a mastectomy (Breast Cancer Now, 2022). Yet, numerous studies, including one (Blackmore et al., 2024) recently published by The Breast, a peer-reviewed journal, highlight the lack of visual resources to support decision-making. This leads women to seek unfiltered and potentially distressing images online. Thus, there is a critical need for better visual decision aids to help women navigate their surgical expectations. The goal of The Book of Boobs (BOB) is to empower and educate women through fine art photography, showcasing the beauty of reconstructed bodies. BOB aims to create a comprehensive library of images showcasing common surgical breast reconstruction types. Through collaboration with patients, nurses and surgeons, it seeks to provide guidance and serve as a valuable medical resource during challenging times.