About

In love and struggle.

This project began as a way to document my natural breasts ahead of my bilateral mastectomy, after being diagnosed with breast cancer in my 30s. It quickly evolved into an exploration of moments throughout my health adventure, including getting ready for a gala one week after my surgery (hiding JP drains in formal attire was an unexpected life experience), fighting valiantly to make fetch happen and preserve my hair during chemotherapy while adjusting to tissue expanders, and finally to reconstruction with implants I never would have considered otherwise.

Project: Self. has been divided into two parts: a photojournalistic journey through what were, to me, four distinct phases of the process, with photos by Paulo Netto; and a studio session incorporating the art of Kintsugi into scars, with photos by Jackie Abbott.

Cancer is hard, but it taught me a lot, and showed me an abundance of love and joy.
xoxo
Caileigh

A childhood photo of Caileigh Scott, age 2. She wears a purple dress with a white collar, and gleefully holds her hands to her face.

Caileigh Scott

I’m a storyteller, movement artist, writer, comedian, equestrian, coffee connoisseur, and former child. Always an advocate for elevating the voices and stories of women and marginalized genders, I love any opportunity to use my own voice to create community, connection, and social impact. You can learn more about me here.

If you’d like to connect, say hello on social media.

IMPORTANT! If you’re experiencing or have experienced breast cancer and need a friend, you have one! Please reach out on social media or via email.

(Photo by Peter Herb)

NOTE: The phrase “in love and struggle” is borrowed from two sources:
• In Love and Struggle: The Revolutionary Lives of James Boggs and Grace Lee Boggs, by Stephen M. Ward
• In Love and Struggle, a live event series produced by The Meteor

There is no intent to compare my journey with the lives of Black Americans. I encourage folks to discover, tangibly support, and uplift both the aforementioned works.

The concepts of both Love and Struggle were paired and threaded throughout my experience with a major health issue.