Photo By Senior Master Sgt. Cohen Young | A cancer patient mixes colors while painting during Oncology on Canvas at Tripler Army...... read more read more
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Tripler Army Medical Center in Hawaii uses art as one form of therapy to help ease the minds of cancer patients.
Art is a way to express one's creative side and for some, a good way to escape and ease the mind, settle down or free one's thoughts from daily pressures.
Tripler's Oncology Department conducts a painting program for cancer patients and their families to assist everyone involved so that the affects of cancer can be discussed amongst them.
"Oncology for Canvas" was originally started to help women with breast cancer, but Tripler has used the program to help patients with all forms of cancer. Oncology for Canvas was started six years ago by a pharmaceutical company called Eli Lilly.
"Tripler is the only military facility that participates in the program as an entire hospital and Hawaii is the only state in the United States, as well as the only place in the world, that does it the way that we do it here," said Pat Nishimoto, a Registered Nurse in the Oncology Department.
"We do it as a form of therapy to let people reflect on their cancer experience," said Mrs. Nishimoto. "We have other patients, family members, nurses, social workers, play therapists and psychologists with them so they are in a safe environment when discussing cancer."
Children can also benefit from the program.
"We've used artwork to help children talk about their feelings when mommy is too sick and can't play with them like she used to," said Mrs. Nishimoto. "When the children are relaxed and painting, they speak more freely and you hear what's in their hearts. I always feel pride when it's successful and people are able to express feelings that they didn't' have."
Libby Hoyle, a U.S. Navy spouse and current cancer patient, has been fighting cancer in her bones, brain and liver for the last few years.
"I was first diagnosed with cancer in my breast in 2007, but then after a bilateral mastectomy and chemotherapy, it spread to my bones, then the brain and recently my liver," said Mrs. Hoyle.
The Oncology on Canvas program has helped Mrs. Hoyle from the moment she was invited to attend.
"I was first invited by Pat to join this and my family enjoyed it," said Mrs. Hoyle. "It's therapeutic and the kids enjoy it and I get to come on my terms as opposed to the usual boring treatment stuff."
In dealing with cancer, Mrs. Hoyle is much more aware of the threat of cancer in everyday life.
"I worry about my daughter when she gets older and the impact on my life makes me more aware of it," Mrs. Hoyle added. "Cancer doesn't know discriminate in age because I was 27 when I found out. just cause its not in your family, doesn't mean you can't get it."
Mrs. Hoyle and her friends haven't stopped on the paper canvas; they've also gotten artistic tattoos as a form of support for her and her family. On her forearm is a pink ribbon tattoo, the Breast Cancer symbol, and on the inside of the ribbon are the names of her two children.
She and her friends all have Ribbon tattoos.
Mrs. Hoyle said that it means a lot to have the support of friends and she's found out who her true friends are and who will be there.
"I think Libby needs a lot of support from her friends family and anyone close to her with her chemo treatments, so I'm here to support her anyway I can," said Alisha Alvarez, a friend of the Hoyle family. "I love her; she's great and it makes me feel good to be able to her anyway I can."
"Treatment has gotten easier through the bonds that I've made and I have hope that there is a cure," said Mrs. Hoyle. "Even though the treatment is longer, with the Oncology on Canvas program and the Tripler staff, it's kind of fun. Its chemo for life."
| Date Taken: | 10.28.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 10.28.2009 01:04 |
| Story ID: | 40764 |
| Location: | US |
| Web Views: | 724 |
| Downloads: | 670 |
This work, Painting Gives Cancer Patients Hope, by SMSgt Cohen Young, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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