Art Therapy for Cancer

A cancer diagnosis often leaves patients feeling lost, sad, depressed and full of emotions they need to express. With these emotions in mind, art therapy can provide a creative outlet for patients to share their emotions. Art therapy does not have to be limited to painting or drawing; other art therapies include drama, poetry, photography and dance.

Art Therapists

• If a patient has been diagnosed with cancer, an art therapist can help her use creative measures to express herself. Certified art therapists may have an additional degree in social work, counseling, teaching or other similar degrees and undergo training specifically related to cancer patients' needs, such as boosting self image through art therapy, techniques in group therapy and art therapy to treat trauma and depression.

How It Works

• A cancer patient can choose the therapy that most appeals to his interests. Options can include either creating art or in viewing other works of art and voicing how those works make him feel. Another form of art therapy involves collecting photos or small prints of favorite art works and placing them in a scrapbook. Patients review these works as a means to soothe themselves during troubled times, such as after physician visits or chemotherapy or radiation treatments.

Science Behind

• As a complementary therapy to medical treatment, art therapy has shown to reduce negative effects of cancer diagnosis and treatment. According to the American Cancer Society, art therapy enables a patient to relieve fear, anger, stress and anxiety while expressing emotions. Art therapists believe the therapy chemically affects the brain as well, releasing feel-good chemicals in the brain and altering brain waves affecting emotion in the brain.

Studies

• Many studies have been conducted as to the benefits of art therapy, particularly those for cancer patients. One study published in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management (available on sciencedaily.com) was conducted at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, examining the benefit of once a week, hour-long art therapy over the course of four months in cancer patients. Patients reported that art therapy helped reduce symptoms of fatigue, pain, depression, anxiety, drowsiness and appetite loss, and improved overall well-being.

  An additional study conducted by Dr. Jack Lindh of Umea University in Umea, Sweden (published on Reuters.com) shows that breast cancer patients reported improvements in health and well-being after undergoing five art therapy sessions.

Complications

• While very few complications are associated with art therapy, it is a good idea to receive therapy from a licensed therapist. These therapists have received special training in the unique needs of cancer patients and have training in dealing with emotional concerns. Additionally, art therapy for cancer should be used in conjunction with other medical treatments and should not be used as a substitute for other medical therapies.