Fine arts and Therapy: A creative solution for Cancer distress

Art therapy
The creation of art provides cancer patients with an outlet to explore difficult feelings and thoughts. Even talking about or viewing art works as a distraction from the experience of pain and discomfort. Often employed with cancer patients, art therapy helps in coping with depressive symptoms and uncertainty of the future for them.

Music therapy
Music therapy has been found to improve the quality of life of people in cancer therapy. It helps in reducing symptoms and contributes to decreased heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rate. Singing, listening, creating, discussing, and the use of guided imagery with music can help cancer patients feel about themselves and uplift their moods.

Dance/movement therapy
Grooving to music and using movement to improve physical and mental health is at the core of dance/movement therapy. Dance therapy can greatly contribute towards a positive body image among cancer patients. It also helps with body pain and muscle relaxation.

-Ishika Dhawan
ART CULTURATI