Professor Turns Cancer Journey Into Award-Winning Film

When Professor Joanna Callaghan faced breast cancer twice, she picked up a camera instead of retreating into silence.

The University of Sussex filmmaker created "Goodbye Breasts!", a documentary about her post-mastectomy journey that launches its national tour in Brighton on April 14. The film combines self-shot footage, playful animation, and even a giant inflatable breast sculpture to show how community and creativity powered her recovery.

Professor Callaghan's approach breaks every stereotype about cancer documentaries. Instead of dwelling on darkness, she uses humor and art to explore what comes after treatment ends, a period many survivors say feels isolating and confusing.

The documentary has already resonated with audiences across the UK. It won the Audience Award at the Cinecity Brighton Film Festival, proving that people crave honest, hopeful stories about survivorship.

The tour kicks off at Duke's at Komedia in Brighton, where Professor Callaghan will screen the film. Afterward, she'll join Richard Simcock, Consultant Oncologist and Chief Medical Officer at Macmillan Cancer Support, for a live Q&A session.

Why This Inspires

Professor Callaghan's documentary does something remarkable. It transforms a deeply personal medical experience into art that educates, comforts, and empowers others facing similar journeys.

The Q&A session will let audiences explore topics rarely discussed openly: what survivorship really looks like, how women's health care can improve, and why creative expression matters during recovery. These conversations can change how we support people through and after cancer treatment.

By choosing creativity over silence, Professor Callaghan shows that healing doesn't follow a single path. Her inflatable breast installation and animated sequences prove that even difficult experiences can become sources of connection and hope.

The film arrives at a crucial time when cancer survivors need better support systems and more honest conversations about life after treatment.

Professor Callaghan's courage to share her story openly creates space for others to do the same, turning individual struggle into collective healing.