Painted pebbles
created by the participants
Health
Promotion, Art and Cancer
Margaret
Felton
Health Promotion
Cancer Team Co-ordinator
Despite
the fact that one third of the population will experience cancer in
their lifetime there is still a reluctance to discuss the subject. Having
cancer can be a difficult and frightening experience. People are often
trapped by their fears, their isolation and their secrets. Overcoming
communication gaps is an important aspect of health education and health
promotion. All too often cancer is perceived to be fatal, a punishment,
infectious, a no hope situation. This is in part due to people affected
by cancer not having their voices heard, not being given the opportunity
to express the emotional impact of their experience. Too often we hear
about losing the battle, as if dying was a personal and ultimate failure
of individual people to defeat cancer. Less frequently do we hear about
people living long and fruitful lives having had cancer, with cancer
or with episodes of cancer. Exhibiting the paintings of Michele Angelo
Petrone's 'Emotional Cancer Journey' in six venues across East Sussex
Brighton and Hove during 1997 raised many important issues. Patients
and people affected by cancer filled in evaluation forms and wrote to
us with their own experiences.
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On analysis
it was very clear that people were saying that they do not want to be
isolated and marginalised with their fear and loss. They want to share
and learn from the experience of others and they want to be exposed
and have access to images and writings, which relate and reflect their
own experiences. Health professionals expressed two basic issues, some
were relieved to be able to learn and understand better the emotional
impact of cancer, and some felt it was their responsibility to protect
people from these powerful emotions. It was also clear that health professionals
needed to be better supported if they are to allow people to express
their emotional needs. In 1998 Health Promotion Adviser with Lewes District
Council Arts Development Officer, and St Peter and St James Hospice
offered Michele a residency at the hospice, putting to the test peoples
desire to make visible their emotional response to cancer. During the
course of Michele Angelo Petrone's residency at St Peter and St James
Hospice enormous barriers were broken down, people were able to communicate
with and without words and expression was given to these feelings.
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Part of the result of the workshops is this combination of words and
pictures. This book is intended to help bridge the gap in communication
between the carer and the cared for; demystify the cancer experience;
help us to cope with living life to the full when everyday is a bonus
and dying a real possibility; help us believe in recovery and life after
cancer; remind us to take nothing for granted; it will help us develop
a language and a dialogue around cancer without which we cannot begin
to share responsibility with health professionals for our treatment
and care. These pictures and words are invaluable to our understanding
of the totality of the cancer experience. The people represented in
this book wish to share their emotional cancer experiences in order
to help others. The openness, honesty, beauty and hope expressed in
this book took great courage. Margaret Felton (Health Promotion Cancer
Team Co-ordinator) Ivory Place, Morley St, Brighton BN2 2QE 01273 703100