About The Project

"The Next Birthday Project" is an ongoing photography campaign that showcases cancer survivors and fighters and honors those that have lost their battle. With each story showcased, our goal is to bring light to the specific individual, while delivering an inspiring message of hope, strength and courage.

We aspire to grow this campaign first nationally and then globally, continuously conveying the message of hope, strength and courage to all individuals directly and indirectly affected by cancer.

In 2013, my Mom was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Through her battle and my search for a way to understand and accept that my Mom wasn't invincible, The Next Birthday Project was born.

“It’s time we showed the face behind the ribbon.”

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About The Founders

Tracy King 
Photographer

When I was a little girl, the idea we could lose the ones we loved was never a thought in my brain. These days, there isn't one person you meet that doesn't either know someone affected by cancer or has been affected themselves. Cancer is truly a scary subject, but there is one much worse – hopelessness. The ability to not know how to help or give help to the ones you love. 

In 2001, my Mom was diagnosed with a genetic disorder called Cowdence Disease. It’s a genetic malformation of the P10 gene that creates tumors in her body. P10 is one of the most commonly lost tumor suppressors in human cancer.  Some are cancerous; some are benign, most can be removed with surgery. Because of her Cowden’s Disease we as a family were comfortable with the fact if the doctors ever found anything, it would be taken care of quickly. This process had happened 4 times prior (skin, two-different breast diagnosis, and colon). 

Unfortunately, in July of 2013, my family’s idea of a “medical comfort zone” changed. The doctors found a lump in her lung larger than an orange that had nothing to do with her prior disease. She was diagnosed with Stage 4 Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. This was the first time we heard the phrase “aggressive chemo treatment schedule”. 

I felt lost, powerless and unable to help in a meaningful way. Since this was the first time my Mom had to go through a chemo regimen, the idea of losing her hair was definitely in the cards. She decided to cut her hair short in the hopes her hair loss would be minimal, and thus the shock to her kids of her being in that state would also be easier to handle. 

One night, I was talking about her new hair cut and she giggled and said I should photographer her, and use her as one of my “Inspiration models” in my series called “Ladies of Class”. “I want to empower others...cancer and chemo wasn't hopelessness, it can be beautiful and strong”.  After several conversations back and forth, The Next Birthday Project was formed.

Ever since I could hold a camera, I have always wanted to be a photographer. Photography and the skill of capturing how beautiful I saw the world was a lifelong goal. The idea of marrying my creative calling with hope through the visual journeys of stories by people who were affected by cancer was all I needed to get this project running. 

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Pam King 

The year 1997 was a turning point in my life. I was diagnosed with DCIS. For most people this diagnosis can be workable as it is a pre invasive cancer. Unfortunately for me, I was experiencing family/personal issues and this new glitch in my life was a little more devastating. When I saw the concern on my children’s faces, I took on the attitude, go forward and “just do it”.

I was given the option of continued biopsies until clean margins were achieved, or a mastectomy. I opted for a mastectomy as I felt I was entering this new phase in my life fully in charge, and I could handle it. The pathology after the mastectomy proved that I made the right decision, as there was a lot more DCIS closer to my chest wall.

From 1997 to October 2003, I went through numerous operations. Breast reconstruction, Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, removal of an endometrial polyp, reactive lymphoid hyperplasia in my neck, tubulovillous adenoma in my colon, and a sub occipital craniotomy for a possible brain tumor. Luckily for me, the path report showed that I did not have brain cancer!

In October 2003, my oncologist sent me for a genetic work-up where I was diagnosed with Cowden’s disease.

Cowden’s disease is a hereditary condition which causes multiple types of benign tissue overgrowth (called hematomas) and a risk of breast, thyroid and uterine cancers, and polyps of the small and large intestine.

Now all made sense to me!

In 2004 I was diagnosed with ADH. My breast oncologist offered me a choice, surveillance or prophylactic mastectomy. Tamoxifin was out of the question because of my original breast diagnosis.

The offer for the mastectomy was because of my Cowden’s diagnosis and being a high risk for breast cancer. Now I had a double mastectomy and more operations for reconstruction.

Because of my Cowden’s diagnosis, I am monitored frequently by Gyn, Dermatology, and Endocrine (thyroid).

It was decided where I am a risk for Gyn cancers, I should get a hysterectomy.

I see a dermatologist every six months, and have had many procedures to remove skin growths , which included  a Basal Cell growth.

I am still on surveillance for Thyroid cancer.

As my scars healed, my life healed. I graduated from college with an Associate degree and found a new job compatible with my college degree.

Amid all my medical visits, I went back to school and achieved a Bachelors degree in a different field.

In July 2013 I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Many docs have told me that this new diagnosis has nothing to do with my Cowden’s disease. 

Thus opened another chapter in my life.

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