IT was a photo published to break down prejudice about cancer sufferers.

But now Facebook has removed a portrait of an Oxfordshire breast cancer campaigner showing her operation scars after deeming it offensive.

Eynsham mum-of-three Anna Antell was one of 14 cancer survivors to pose for the Dear Cancer exhibition at Oxford’s Malmaison Hotel last month to prove the disease could not rob them of their beauty or bravery.

Facebook said the black-and-white photograph contained nudity, breaching the Statement of Rights and Responsibilities each user must agree to.

Yet it took the Oxford Mail just 30 seconds to find pornography and tributes to killer Raoul Moat on other Facebook pages.

Ms Antell, 43, of Spareacre Lane, Eynsham, said: “What they have done makes me more cross the more I think about it.

“It is saying that we are offensive.

“The way I see it, cancer is offensive, Facebook is offensive, but these images are not.”

She questioned whether the image would have been removed if it had shown a man with a scar on his chest.

Ms Antell underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy at Oxford’s Churchill Hospital after being diagnosed with breast cancer last year.

She launched the Dear Cancer exhibition to raise money for breast cancer research, inviting cancer patients from across the world to send in artwork and pose for photographic portraits.

Fellow breast cancer survivor and Dear Cancer model Deb Hunt, 45, from Middle Barton, said: “I am really upset and angry about it.

“For each of us who had their photos taken, it was not an easy step.

“We did it to get rid of prejudices and show we still function as women even though we only have one breast.

“The fact Facebook has called it offensive makes it sound like women with breast cancer are offensive.”

Facebook’s stance has also prompted outrage on Twitter.

Facebook spokesman Richard Appleton said he was unsure whether another user had complained, or whether the image had been detected as containing nudity by censorship software.

He said: “While Anna’s cause is a worthy one, with over 500 million users we have to put in place a set of universal guidelines that respect the views of a wide range of people, from 13-year-olds to the very old.

“The image was removed because it contains what we categorise as nudity – not because of the nature of the nudity in question.

“We will however be reviewing our policy in this specific area in future.”

  • In 2007, a string of major firms withdrew their adverts on Facebook after it emerged they were appearing next to British National Party content.
  • In 2008, photographs of mums breastfeeding were removed by the website for showing nipples.
  • This year, more than 100,000 people joined the “Everybody Draw Mohammed Day” group, triggering street protests by offended Muslims. Facebook then agreed to block the page for users in India and Pakistan.
  • Facebook refused to take down a tribute page to on-the-run gunman Raoul Moat, although its creator later took out content.