In a room with white walls, white curtains, and big pieces of medical equipment, sits a cancer patient with a canvas quietly painting in a corner, To a regular person this may seem very boring, but to a cancer patient it provides an opportunity to express their emotions, hopes, fears, faith, grief, pain, anger, tiredness and their belief that they will get through this. That is the power of cancer art.
Researchers have found that art helps cancer patients reduce depression, fight anxiety and lessen their grief and anger. (Russel, H., 2019) Cancer art supports cancer patient’s journey, supporting them along the way and helping them cope. It is an amazing but little thought-of tool for those with cancer.
The Alchemy Of Art Therapy And Cancer Care
Art therapy is a form of creative therapy that allows people to express their emotions, sensations and thoughts through creative artmaking. These things may be difficult to discuss verbally.. From patients, it is evident that art therapies like painting, drawing, and sculpture lead to a reduction of anxiety and thus enhance the quality of life among patients. Art therapy for cancer patients is implemented in oncology cancer support groups and hospitals to provide emotional support at every step starting from critical conditions, treatment, rehabilitation, and aftercare.
Benefits of Art Therapy For Cancer Patients
Art therapy benefits people who just want to express themselves using a different approach. For cancer patients, art therapy has been proven beneficial in many forms, such as:
1. Reduction of Anxiety and Depression
Cancer comes at a cost of more than just your physical health, it also impacts your mental health, causing anxiety and depression. Studies have shown that art therapy improves depression and influences fatigue levels in cancer patients on chemotherapy. [(G Bar‐Sela, et. all, 2007) linked: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/pon.1175]
It appears that creative artmaking in art therapy helps clients release tension, and express their vulnerability, feelings, fears and weaknesses in the art, getting in from within and putting it into the artwork. Art therapy is nonverbal and is a gentle and fun type of therapy. It can be very soothing.
Read here why art is good for mental health:
2. Enhancement of Coping Mechanisms
Art also helps cancer patients cope, offering a unique way to deal with and express overwhelming emotions. A regular cancer patient goes through various psychological changes, physical changes, sensations and responses during their cancer treatment. Art therapy helps people to express themselves creatively to bring more peace to a stressful situation. Clients may choose to paint, draw, sculpt, or use collage or assemblage art to express themselves. They don’t have to be artistic to participate, they may simply decide on what colours, lines, pictures and/or symbols represent what they want to express. If you don’t know what that looks like, don’t worry, the art therapist will be with you every step of the way.
3. Improvement in Quality of Life
Art Therapy will not cure cancer but it will improve the person’s emotional wellbeing through creative expression and being attuned to their therapist.
When a person engages in art, their mind distracts from their illness allowing the person to feel a breath of fresh air, feeling their individuality apart from just cancer. Mental health professionals often encourage participation in art therapy projects for cancer patients to keep them motivated and mentally strong.
4. Support from Cancer Related Symptoms
Apart from offering emotional support, have found that art therapy improved depression and positively influenced fatigue levels in cancer patients on chemotherapy, which helped reduce physical discomfort.
For a more in-depth analysis of how art therapy helps in fighting depression, read here: Prescription Art Is Lifting Depression.
Art Therapy with Specific Cancer Populations
While art therapy for cancer patients has been widely studied, it is also used for specific cancer populations such as child cancer patients and those with breast cancer.
1. Art Therapy For Pediatric Cancer Patients
Children undergoing cancer treatment often have limited ways of expressing their fears and anxieties. Art therapy with pediatric cancer patients offers a vital outlet for these children to communicate their feelings and make sense of their experiences. Through playful and creative activities, children can process their emotions in a non-threatening way, giving them a sense of control during a time of uncertainty.
2. Art Therapy for Breast Cancer Patients
Women facing breast cancer often experience profound emotional and psychological distress, including body image issues and fears about the future. Art therapy for breast cancer patients helps them explore these complex emotions and provides a sense of empowerment and emotional recovery. Creative expression helps them process their feelings, facilitating healing on both an emotional and psychological level, It can provide a useful outlet to work through the emotions of body and hormonal changes.
The Research Supporting Art Therapy in Cancer Care
Over the past two decades, more studies have emerged supporting the use of art therapy for cancer patients. These studies reveal that art therapy helps improve mental health, personal growth, and social interaction among cancer patients. The research underscores that art therapy cancer programs are more than just creative outlets; they provide essential emotional support that can lead to better overall health outcomes. [(Geue, K., et all., 2010) linked: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0965229910000373]
In one study, participants who engaged in art therapy and cancer interventions reported a reduction in depression and anxiety, as well as an increase in emotional resilience. Another study showed that art therapy improved depression and influenced fatigue levels in cancer patients on chemotherapy, highlighting the profound effect it can have on physical and emotional well-being.
And Finally…
If you or someone you love is battling cancer, consider adding art therapy cancer to your healing regimen. Art Therapy Guelph has brought up this innovative approach where we help with much-needed emotional relief and foster resilience. Reach out to us for supportive art therapy programs for cancer patients to begin this creative journey toward emotional well-being today.
References:
- Art therapy for breast cancer: Cheng P, Xu L, Zhang J, Liu W, Zhu J. Role of Arts Therapy in Patients with Breast and Gynecological Cancers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Palliat Med. 2021 Mar;24(3):443-452. doi: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33507828/.
- Art therapy for pediatric cancer: Tilly Dawson. Art Therapist at The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne. She holds a Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology), and a Masters of Art Therapy. https://www.childrenscancerfoundation.com.au/what-we-do/clinical-care/art-therapy-and-cancer-care/.
- Art therapy for fatigue: Bar-Sela, G., Atid, L., Danos, S., Gabay, N., & Epelbaum, R. (2007). Art therapy improved depression and influenced fatigue levels in cancer patients on chemotherapy. Psycho-Oncology, 16(11), 980-984. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.1175.