Bald pictures lift up cancer patients

Nguyen Thuy Tien (front) is accompanied by volunteers in a photo from a collection by the Vietnam Breast Cancer Network ( Photo: Dinh Dzu)

A collection of photos of the shaved heads of young volunteers has gone on show in HCM City to support breast-cancer patients.

The photos feature two cancer patients, Nguyen Thuy Tien, Nguyen Thi Ngoc Dung, and 10 young volunteers.

Tien is manager and co-ordinator at the Vietnam Breast Cancer Network established by her late sister, Thuong Sobey – a breast cancer victim. She has kept her head shaved in memory since 2013.

Dung, 30, is a breast cancer patient in an advanced stage of treatment. Tien and Dung are pictured with five men with shaved heads and other women with normal hair.

The men were willing to shave their heads wearing pink and white clothes, the colours use to promote the fight against breast cancer.

"I'm glad to know the photo project supports breast cancer patients," said Nguyen Huu Nhat Truong, one of five female volunteers.

Truong's mother died of breast cancer two years ago.

While caring for his mother in hospital, Truong met many breast cancer patients.

"I think it is wonderful to raise the spirit of breast cancer patients and help them overcome the disease," she said.

Another volunteer, Hong Quyen, is from the southernmost province of Ca Mau.

About 30 photos will be displayed at a photo exhibition in October as one of a series of events by Vietnam Breast Cancer Network.-VNA