Art Therapy Brings Comfort to Patients at Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center
Cancer patients experience a deep mix of emotions along their journey: shock, fear, anxiety, sadness, and many more. These feelings can exacerbate the trauma of a cancer diagnosis and act as a roadblock to recovery.
Art has proven to be an effective outlet for patients and their family members to cope with a range of emotions. Studies have shown that art therapy benefits cancer patients in many ways, including improving their mental health. For many, art therapy helps to decrease symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Cancer patients and survivors gathered recently at the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center at St Luke's Health-The Woodlands Hospital for “Art of Healing,” during which cancer patients and survivors painted, drew, and designed as a creative outlet.
Marie Hutchins has battled three bouts of breast cancer since 2002 and is a firm believer in art therapy. “Before cancer, I never did any art but I find it very calming, soothing, and meditative.”
Marie’s daughter and granddaughter also attended the hospital’s event, something the survivor says she never thought she would be alive to do 22 years after her first cancer diagnosis. She was so invigorated by the experience she stocked up on art supplies, which she keeps on her kitchen table.
“Art takes you out of thinking about cancer and allows you to express yourself without having to think of the words for it,” she said.
Breast cancer survivor Juli Sorrentino attended the event with her grandson, who was born the very same day she met with her oncologist at the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center to plan her cancer treatment two years ago.
After a course of chemotherapy, radiation, and mastectomy, Juli is cancer-free today. But the thought of what she's survived the past two years still brings a tear to her eyes.
Juli found comfort and empathy by sharing her experience at the event with fellow survivors and her care team. “There are hundreds of people that support you during a cancer diagnosis, from the nurses to the infusion team to the social worker to my doctor - I would have never met those people without a cancer diagnosis.”
“When you get together and share survivor stories, that's what keeps you going,” Juli insisted. “It offers an opportunity for expression and sharing about personal recovery trials and triumphs. It was very cheerful and it was very uplifting.”
St Luke's -The Woodlands Oncologist Angela Coscio says patients, survivors, and their families who face the adversity of cancer benefit from a positive attitude. “No one asks to be faced with a diagnosis of cancer and the fear and uncertainty that it brings to an entire family, but seeing a patient and family put aside the troubles of daily life and come together is a blessing that should not be overlooked during the battle with cancer.”
Juli is an avid supporter of art therapy. As part of her personal art therapy, she turned her mastectomy scar into a beautiful dandelion, representing all those who touched her life during her cancer journey. “It was one of the first things I did after my mastectomy and it was very healing, very therapeutic - taking something painful and turning it into something beautiful.”
The Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center at St. Luke’s Health-The Woodlands Hospital extends innovative cancer care to the North Houston community. In collaboration with Baylor College of Medicine, the center is equipped to pave the way for even more revolutionary discoveries and groundbreaking approaches to cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The team is committed to providing a full continuum of care, high-touch patient support and access to advanced resources, all within a community hospital setting. Specialized oncologists and radiologists at the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center at The Woodlands Hospital are dedicated to understanding, preventing, and treating this disease. Our location in The Woodlands provides access to clinical trials and innovative treatment protocols backed by the powerful research capabilities of Baylor College of Medicine.
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