Dark Days

by Carol Pairaudeau (UK)

Dark Days, is a book that arose from my breast cancer diagnosis, my meetings with members of the medical profession, and talking with fellow patients on an online support forum.
There are two sides to the book. On one side it is black and white symbolising the dark thoughts associated with the shock of being told you have cancer. The range of reactions experienced by different women on the forum are expressed in their own words and handwriting.

The flip side of the book has a coloured background suggestive of bodily tissues, overprinted with breast cancer related terminology. This side of Dark Days represents the matter of fact behaviour of the medical profession and the clinical, alien language of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.

One diagnosis but two totally different aspects – the inner emotional turmoil, and a strange and unfamiliar external environment. The threads that connect the pages of this book represent the connections made between women who met on a thread of an online support forum.