A Case Study "A Life with and beyond Cancer (original) (raw)
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Title: Photo Making in Hospice: Can the Process of Constructing Portrait Photographs Restore the Changed Self-image that Accompanies the Diagnosis of a Life-limiting Illness? Author(s): Mortimer A.J.1,2, Day R.1, Broom K.2, Perkins P.1,3 Institute(s): 1Sue Ryder Leckhampton Court Hospice, Day Hospice, Cheltenham, United Kingdom, 2Birmingham City University, Institute of Art and Design, Birmingham, United Kingdom, 3Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Palliative Medicine, Cheltenham, United Kingdom Presenting author email address: ami.mortimer@virginmedia.com Background: Photography and self-portraits have been used in healthcare, yet no study has documented the experiences of hospice patients' participation. Our hospice has recently started to offer patients the option to make self-portraits/portrait photographs. Aims: To explore the lived experiences of day hospice patients participating in the self-directed photographic portraiture experience. Methods: Audio-taped semi-structured interviews were conducted using a topic guide. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using narrative analysis. Seven respondents were interviewed: three patients, two hospice staff observers and two photographers. Fourteen interviews were conducted - each participant was interviewed before and after the photographic session. Results: The following themes were identified during analysis: The participants constructed photographs to represent who they are rather than focussing on their illness. Participants chose not to reinforce the more negative elements of illness progression but rather to accept them. Life-limiting illness, ageing and treatments damage the patient's sense of self. This may be experienced as a form of grief or loss. Conclusion/discussion: Patients provided unique insights into the experiences of changes that come with life limiting illnesses, articulating losses that resulted. In all cases the patients felt a profound difference between the image they held of themselves and the photographs they created. Patients said they benefited from this methodology of reflective photographic self-portraiture. This study straddles both arts and healthcare. The results have helped shape this intervention for future patients.
This study explored the meanings, inspirations and subjective significance of personal artwork created as a leisure activity by women living with cancer. A convenience sample of twelve women aged between 23-74 years participated in semi-structured interviews. Participants were living in various stages of the cancer trajectory, and engaged in several forms of visual art-making. They submitted examples of their artwork by photograph and then participated in semi-structured interviews. From a phenomenological analysis, the authors inferred a number of themes. Participants perceived a few pieces, made during chemotherapy, as expressing deeper feelings about cancer in symbolic terms. More prevalent in participants’ accounts were references to their artwork as a sensuous pleasure, and its confirmation of their ongoing capability, personal continuity and social connectedness. Participants acknowledged ongoing loss and difficulties related to cancer. However, each piece of art offered a mea...
Turning Cancer into Medicine: Storying Healing through Imagery
Turning Cancer into Medicine: Storying Healing through Imagery, 2023
This Photo Essay explores my experience with cancer and healing using Indigenous traditional medicines. I use Photo First Voice, a form of autoethnography, to story my 'living' experience with cancer, which includes getting in touch with and honouring my Indigenous roots (Algonquin/French) attending healing ceremonies, and becoming an Oshkaabewis (a healer's helper) myself. I integrate photographic images into this essay to illustrate my experiences and to enhance the meaning of the words I have committed to these pages. Each image represents a different aspect or level of knowledge and healing. These images and text are followed by a discussion in which I weave fragments of experience together to narrate a living (inter)relationship with the earth, towards a more balanced whole. Indigenous medicines set in motion major changes in my life, which are fundamental to my ongoing healing. In this context, the term 'medicine' refers to Indigenous knowledges that contribute to healing, healing ceremonies, teachings, and plant medicines (mainly Ojibwe).
Supportive Care in Cancer
Introduction Talking about illness experience can be challenging for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with cancer. Visual tools, in addition to spoken language, might make this easier, such as rich pictures and photovoice. We aimed to obtain a comprehensive view of the cancer experience of AYAs by using rich pictures and photovoice. Methods AYAs (18–35 years old) who had any type of cancer, or were in remission from cancer, were eligible. AYAs drew rich pictures about their experience of living with cancer and explained these during subsequent interviews. Some of the AYAs also participated in photovoice and spent two days with a photographer to make photos about their illness experience. Rich pictures and photos were first analyzed separately, using open coding, after which the identified themes were compared. Results Twelve AYAs made rich pictures (RPs), of whom seven also participated in photovoice. The two most predominant themes emerging from the data were struggles related t...
Creativity Research Journal, 2008
This study explored the meanings, inspirations and subjective significance of personal artwork created as a leisure activity by women living with cancer. A convenience sample of twelve women aged between 23-74 years participated in semi-structured interviews. Participants were living in various stages of the cancer trajectory, and engaged in several forms of visual art-making. They submitted examples of their artwork by photograph and then participated in semi-structured interviews. From a phenomenological analysis, the authors inferred a number of themes. Participants perceived a few pieces, made during chemotherapy, as expressing deeper feelings about cancer in symbolic terms. More prevalent in participants' accounts were references to their artwork as a sensuous pleasure, and its confirmation of their ongoing capability, personal continuity and social connectedness. Participants acknowledged ongoing loss and difficulties related to cancer. However, each piece of art offered a measure of resistance against the psychologically and socially disruptive effects of cancer. The pre-interview photography activity was helpful for empowering participants in the interview, and for stimulating detailed memories and associations.
The Arts in Psychotherapy, 2007
This qualitative study examined accounts of women diagnosed with cancer who engaged regularly in art as a leisure activity. The objective was to explore participants' experiences of cancer and their views about the contribution of artmaking to their subjective well-being. The study was based on the principles of interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). A convenience sample of twelve women aged between 23-74 years participated in semi-structured interviews, and their accounts were analysed thematically. Participants described a range of ongoing difficulties associated with cancer such as fear for the future, pain, sleeplessness, role loss, activity restriction, reduced self-confidence and altered social relationships. They described art-making as supporting subjective well-being in four major ways.
The Journal of Positive Psychology, 2007
Why do some women turn to creative art-making after a diagnosis of cancer? Eleven women provided qualitative accounts that were analyzed following guidelines for interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Some described taking up artistic leisure activities initially in order to manage emotional distress. Others emphasized their need for positive well-being, taking up art to experience achievement and satisfaction, to regain a positive identity, and to normalize family dynamics in the context of living with cancer. Participants' turn to art-making was facilitated by biographical and contextual factors, including pre-existing craft skills, long-standing personal values and coping philosophies, family role models for managing adversity, and the supportive encouragement of family and friends. Other research has acknowledged that positive lifestyle change and post-traumatic growth can occur after a cancer diagnosis, and this study reveals a multi-faceted process. The findings suggest a need for further research into the experiences that facilitate positive lifestyle change and subjective well-being among people who are living with cancer.