Cheery Atmosphere Helps Cancer Patient

“One day all the stress of coping with cancer hit me at once.  I dropped onto the edge of my bed and felt my courage and energy desert me.  Then I lifted my eyes to the painting on my wall, the ones I had created in the painting group.  There was my courage, inspiration, strength, and guidance shining back into me from the paintings.  It was amazing – I felt lifted and renewed.”  – A cancer patient

Cancer patients often suffer from emotional distress and additional physical ailments that can interfere with their treatment and undermine their quality of life.  Their family caregivers and other loved ones can also be subject to high levels of depression and stress-related syndromes.

For cancer patients, caregivers, and loved ones, creating art and and/or being surrounded by art provides distractions from physical and psychological suffering, combats stress and depression, builds a sense of community and social support, and opens new pathways for important personal insights.  Viewing art works created by other cancer patients can alleviate a sense of isolation and spark new perspectives.

Cancer centers throughout the world are incorporating arts therapies and arts programming into their services for inpatients and outpatients and using visual art to create a beautiful, nurturing environment.

*Information in this post was provided from Transforming the Healthcare Experience Through the Arts.