“WE’RE still beautiful and we’re still fighting” was the cry from cancer sufferers who attended an evening of photos, paintings and poetry by women who have battled the illness.

About 60 people attended the launch of the Dear Cancer exhibition on Monday night.

The show at the Malmaison Hotel at Oxford Castle was organised by mother-of-three Anna Antell, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last year.

The exhibition features pictures of 13 cancer sufferers, some of whom posed topless and bearing the scars of breast cancer surgery to show they are still beautiful.

Guests also listened to extracts from the late Jack FM broadcaster Ali Booker’s Cancer Diaries. The 47-year-old, from Wantage, died from the disease in July.

Ms Antell, of Spareacre Lane, Eynsham, arranged the two-day exhibition at the hotel and plans to take it around the country next year.

The 43-year-old, who underwent a mastectomy and months of chemotherapy and radiotherapy at Oxford’s Churchill Hospital, is currently awaiting breast reconstruction surgery.

She told the audience: “Cancer is indiscriminate, it takes us, it takes bits from us, it takes friends and family from us but we have also gained from it.

“We have gained some wonderful friends and these photographs are stunning.

“Everyone’s going to see that even though cancer’s taken bits of you, you are still beautiful, you are still lovely and you’re still here and you’re still fighting.”

She was supported by her daughters Megan and India.

India, 13, a pupil at Eynsham’s Bartholomew School said: “I think my mum is really strong. She just finished all her treatment and went straight back to work. She thinks women shouldn’t hide but be proud of themselves, because most women keep it in and don’t say much about it.”

Naomi Parry, 32, from Headington, posed for pictures six years after she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

She had a lump removed and underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy before being given the all-clear.

She said: “It changes you and I think for the better. I wouldn’t change the experience you go through, despite how awful some of the treatment is.

“You appreciate life more, you appreciate people more and you see what’s important.

“It was an emotional evening and this is a brilliant outlet for people who are going through some really traumatic times.”

Jill Pike, 58, from Thame, was diagnosed with breast cancer at the John Radcliffe Hospital on the same day as Ms Antell.

The mother-of-two, who had a double mastectomy, said: “To be honest, I don’t really look at myself in the mirror very much any more but I agreed to be involved for Anna. She’s done brilliantly.”

The exhibition raised more than £1,300 for Cancer Research UK and Oxford’s Sobell House Hospice.

For more photographs, see oxfordmail.co.uk/ pictures/oxfordshire_ galleries/dear_cancer/