Supporting Breast Cancer Survivors

A Roller Coaster of Emotions

Getting a breast cancer diagnosis brings about a whirlwind of intense emotions. Each person's journey is unique, but there are some common feelings many experience:

1. Shock: It's hard to process the news and accept the reality of the situation.

2. Fear and Anxiety: Worries about the future, treatment options, and overall health can cause a lot of fear and anxiety.

3. Sadness and Grief: Many feel deep sadness and grief over the loss of their health and the impact on their lives and relationships.

4. Uncertainty: Questions about the prognosis and treatment side effects can create a strong sense of unease.

5. Anger and Frustration: Anger can be directed at the disease, the healthcare system, or even oneself.

6. Guilt: Some may feel guilty for burdening loved ones or not recognizing the signs earlier.

7. Loss of Control: Feeling like you've lost control over your body and life can be very distressing and make you feel vulnerable.

Emotions During Treatment and Recovery

Breast cancer treatment and recovery are challenging and emotional. Patients often face:

1. Anxiety: Concerns about treatment effectiveness, side effects, and the future can cause anxiety.

2. Fear: Fear of cancer progression, recurrence, and its impact on overall health is common.

3. Pain and Discomfort: Surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation, and other treatments can cause physical pain and emotional distress.

4. Fatigue: The disease and its treatment can leave you feeling exhausted and emotionally drained.

5. Frustration: Side effects of treatment and changes in daily routines can be very frustrating.

6. Sadness and Grief: Mourning the loss of pre-diagnosis life, physical appearance, and future plans is a natural part of the process.

7. Isolation and Loneliness: Treatment often requires limiting social interactions, leading to feelings of isolation and loneliness.

The Importance of Support

It's crucial for breast cancer patients to have a strong support system and access to mental health resources to navigate these emotional ups and downs. Counselling, support groups, and self-care practices are vital for promoting emotional well-being during this time.

Aims of Counselling with Art Therapy (Integrated Art Therapy)

At WOODS, we combine counselling and art therapy- Integrated Art Therapy.  We provide emotional support and work together with the survivor on coping strategies, giving each survivor time and space to reflect on and express their experiences, thoughts, and feelings.

The goals of Integrated Art Therapy sessions are to:

1. Give survivors time and space to reflect on and express their experiences, thoughts, and feelings.

2. Support survivors in restoring their body image.

3. Reduce stress and strengthen survivors’ ability to cope with the breast cancer experience.

We offer one on one as well as group sessions.  While one on one offers more in depth personal work, group sessionsallow participants to benefit from shared experiences and collective support.  Both formats are designed to provide a safe space for expression, healing, and growth, tailored to meet the diverse needs of each participant.

Group Art Therapy Sessions for Cancer Survivors at Breast Cancer Foundation

Currently, I offer regular group art therapy sessions to members of the breast cancer foundation. During these sessions, participants receive simple drawing instructions and can choose their preferred medium—colour pencils, crayons, charcoal, or watercolours. After creating their drawings, they share them with the group. Everyone gets a chance to speak and share what their fellow participants' artwork means to them. This creates a safe, respectful, and empathetic space where everyone can be heard and learn from each other's experiences.  Research has also shown that art therapy leads better therapeutic outcomes (See Appendix I).

Participants' Feedback

Participants have shared the following about their experiences:

• "Art therapy has been a thoughtful and creative way for me to introspect and heal. It truly changes how you see yourself, others, and the world."

• "They have taught me how to tap into my inner resources and help myself feel better.”

• "It has helped me uncover hidden thoughts and emotions, allowing me to deal with them better and feel proud of my new self."

Conclusion

Breast cancer survivors face a complex emotional journey that requires strong mental support and self-care. Art therapy offers a unique and effective way to navigate these emotions, providing a creative and therapeutic outlet that can significantly enhance emotional well-being. Embracing self-care and seeking mental support is not just beneficial but essential for anyone on this challenging path.

Written by:

Angel Chan

Founder, Director or WOODS Counselling and Art Therapy

Counsellor, Art Therapist

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Appendix I

BENEFITS OF INCORPORATING ART THERAPY FOR BREAST CANCER PATIENTS

Research on the effects of art therapy has shown reductions in anxiety and depression, lowered levels of stress, and improved self-assessment of global health.[1] It has been shown that Art Therapy in cancer care can increase communication, stimulate processing of traumatic experiences, reduce negative symptoms, and increase feelings of energy.[2] Looking specifically at breast cancer, Art Therapy has been found to help women with breast cancer confront existential questions and experiences of loss, body changes, and relations affecting their identities.[3] In other studies, women with breast cancer who participated in Art Therapy claimed that it helped them express thoughts and feelings[4]and to support meaning-making processes.[5] 

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References

[1] Monti, D. A., Peterson, C., Shakin Kunkel, E. J., Hauck, W. W., Pequignot, E., Rhodes, L., et al. (2006). A randomized, controlled trial of mindfulness-based art therapy (MBAT) for women with breast cancer. Psycho-Oncology, 15, 363–373.

[2] Luzzatto, P., & Gabriel, B. (2000). The creative journey: A model for short-term group art therapy with posttreatment cancer patients. Art Therapy: Journal of the American Art Therapy Association, 17(4), 265–269.

[3] Malchiodi, C. A. (1997). Invasive art: Art as empowerment for women with breast cancer. In S. Hogan (Ed.), Feminist approaches to art therapy (1st ed., pp. 49–64). London: Routledge.

[4] Borgmann, E. (2002). Art therapy with three women diagnosed with cancer. The Arts in Psychotherapy, 29(5), 245–251.

[5] Predeger, E. (1996). Womanspirit: A journey into healing through art in breast cancer. Advances in Nursing Sciences, 18(3), 48–58.