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Blackanthem Military News
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Last Updated:
Mar 19, 2010 - 6:16:21 PM |
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Blackanthem Military News
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| Seven-year-old Sayle Alvarez paints a sign for family friend Mrs. Libby Hoyle, a cancer patient while participating in the Onclology on Canvas program at Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, Oct. 14. The program is used as a therapeutic measure for those that have cancer. |
HONOLULU, Hawaii - 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."
ADDITIONAL PHOTOS:
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| Cancer patients and Oncology staff workers at Tripler Army Medical Center participate in Oncology on Canvas, Oct. 14. It's a painting program that is therapeutic for cancer patients. |
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| Staff members of the Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, gather with patients and their children, Oct. 14, for Oncology on Canvas, which is used to help cancer patients discuss cancer openly with family and friends with the help of nurses, psychologists and other cancer patients. |
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| Mrs. Patricia Nishimoto (right), a registered nurse speaks with Mrs. Libby Hoyle, a cancer patient while they painting as part of the Onclology on Canvas program at Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, Oct. 14. The program is used as a therapeutic measure for those that have cancer. |
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| Cancer patients and Oncology staff workers at Tripler Army Medical Center participate in Oncology on Canvas, Oct. 14. It's a painting program that is therapeutic for cancer patients. |
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| Angelina, daughter of Mrs. Libby Hoyle, a cancer patient mixes paint during Onclology on Canvas at Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, Oct. 14. The program is used as a therapeutic measure for those that have cancer. |
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| Mrs. Libby Hoyle, a cancer patient is relaxed while painting during the Onclology on Canvas program at Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, Oct. 14. The program is used as a therapeutic measure for those that have cancer. |
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| Mrs. Libby Hoyle, a cancer patient displays a butterfly tattoo while participating in the Oncology for Canvas at Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, Oct. 14. The program is used as a therapeutic measure for those that have cancer. |
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| Mrs. Libby Hoyle, a cancer patient displays a ribbon tattoo with with the names of her children on it while participating in the Oncology for Canvas at Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, Oct. 14. The program is used as a therapeutic measure for those that have cancer. |
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| Mrs. Libby Hoyle, a cancer patient poses with her two children, Angelina and Bradley, Oct. 14, as they stand in front of a painting that Angelina painted for Breast Cancer Awareness Month as part of the Onclology on Canvas program at Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii The program is used as a therapeutic measure for those that have cancer. |
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| Mrs. Alicia Cruz Alvarez (right) and her daughter Sayle paint while participating in the Onclology on Canvas program at Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, Oct. 14. Mrs. Cruz is supporting a friend that currently has cancer and the program is used as a therapeutic measure for cancer patients and their friends and families when openly discussing cancer. |
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| Mrs. Patricia Nishimoto, a registered nurse at the Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii discusses the origins of the Oncology on Canvas program, Oct. 14. The program is used as a therapeutic measure for those that have cancer. |
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| Mrs. Patricia Nishimoto (center), a registered nurse shares a light moment with Mrs. Libby Hoyle, a cancer patient, and her daughter Angelina while they paint as part of the Onclology on Canvas program at Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, Oct. 14. The program is used as a therapeutic measure for those that have cancer. |
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| A cancer patient adds a new color to her painting during Oncology on Canvas while at Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, Oct. 14. |
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| A cancer patient adds a new color to her painting during Oncology on Canvas while at Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, Oct. 14. |
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| Alicia Cruz Alvarez finger paints a flower as part of the Onclology on Canvas program at Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, Oct. 14. The program is used as a therapeutic measure for cancer patients and their friends and families dealing with cancer. |
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| Mrs. Libby Hoyle, a cancer patient, and her daughter Angelina paint as part of the Onclology on Canvas program at Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, Oct. 14. The program is used as a therapeutic measure for those that have cancer. |
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| Mrs. Patricia Nishimoto (center), a registered nurse speaks with Mrs. Libby Hoyle, a cancer patient, and her daughter Angelina while they paint as part of the Onclology on Canvas program at Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, Oct. 14. The program is used as a therapeutic measure for those that have cancer. |
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| Mrs. Libby Hoyle, a cancer patient, and her daughter Angelina paint as part of the Onclology on Canvas program at Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, Oct. 14. The program is used as a therapeutic measure for those that have cancer. |
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| Angelina Hoyle proudly displays a new painting in honor of her mother Mrs. Libby Hoyle, a cancer patient, while taking part in the Onclology on Canvas program at Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, Oct. 14. The program is used as a therapeutic measure for those that have cancer. |
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| Cancer patients and Oncology staff workers at Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, participate in Oncology on Canvas, Oct. 14. It's a therapeutic painting program that unites cancer patients and other patients, their families, psychologists and nurses as they discuss cancer openly. |
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| A cancer patient mixes colors while painting during Oncology on Canvas at Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, Oct. 14. It's a therapeutic painting program that unites cancer patients and other patients, their families, psychologists and nurses as they discuss cancer openly. |
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Ranie Mulligan
24 Nov 2009, 21:08
I, too, like the writer above would like to assist in this project. I am
esthetically inclined and want to feel useful. How can I get involved?
Michael Weidenbach
22 Nov 2009, 01:51
I am an artist (w/BFA, MFA from University of Hawaii) interesting in
communicating with RN Pat Nishimoto regards her Oncology on Canvas
program.
Our mutual friend Karen Lucas spoke to me of her work, as I am seeking
opportunities for involvement in programs of this type that use the
creative arts puposefully in this way. I'm also very interested in the
potential of establishing an art program for veterans of Iraq an Afganistan
(Participaiton in the creative process was of tremendous help to me upon
returning from Vietnam many years ago.)
If you could pass on my contact information to Ms. Nishimoto, I would
appreciate it.
Thank you.
Mike Weidenbach
maureen Kirchhoff
10 Nov 2009, 09:11
Totally awesome! Inspiring. Touches my heart!
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