"Oncology on Canvas" Evokes Emotion in Cancer Survivors

Tools

"Oncology on Canvas" Evokes Emotion in Cancer Survivors

By Erin Leach

CEDAR RAPIDS - Putting your everyday emotions into words is one thing. Expressing your thoughts on being diagnosed with a devastating disease is another.

"Oncology on Canvas" allows women who have been diagnosed with cancer to express their emotions through art. It’s currently on display at the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art.

Dawn Baker, 60, is a local cancer survivor and stopped by to see the exhibit. She says she thought that being diagnosed with breast cancer meant a death sentence but she soon realized a positive attitude was the key to recovery. "You have to laugh everyday and you have to believe, 'Hey, I'm going to make it,'” says Dawn.

Now, four years later she can celebrate because she's a survivor. But going through this gallery brings back a lot of the emotions she felt during her treatment. She says, "Oh, there's emotion in every one of them."

But for Dawn, one of the pieces speaks louder than the others. Dawn describes the painting by saying, "It shows a tree and a strike of lightening and a branch broken off and you say, 'Yes, I've had a little branch broken off but that remaining tree and trunk is still growing' and that's how I feel."

Each one of the gripping pieces sends its own message. Sometimes its anguish, other times its determination and in some cases its defeat but Dawn always seems to find something to smile about. She says, "It's something to think about and it makes you want to live and have fun and laugh every day."

Dawn has actually created a booklet called "Fear Breast Cancer Not: The First 20 Days and Beyond."

She chronicles her personal experiences to guide women who have just been diagnosed with breast cancer. To receive a copy, e-mail Dawn at carneybaker@mchsi.com

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 500 Characters Left

By submitting a comment to this web site, I affirm that I have read, understand, agree to and shall abide by the following rules and regulations as a term and condition of all comments which I may post. As terms and conditions of using this KCRG web site, I agree that I am fully responsible for the contents of all statements which I make. To the best of my knowledge, all such statements are true, fair, and accurate. I shall not post any statements which attack a person’s integrity or moral character, expose a person to public hatred, contempt or ridicule, deprive a person of the benefits of public confidence and social dealings, or injure a person in the maintenance of that person’s business. I shall not knowingly post content that violates the copyright, trademark, patent or other intellectual property right of a third person. I shall not post content that is false, liable, defamatory, obscene, abusive, that violates a person’s right to privacy, that otherwise violates any applicable local, state, national or international law or that is otherwise inappropriate. I acknowledge that if I post a comment which violates this policy that an offended person to whom comments are directed may have a right through judicial process to determine my identity and make a claim against me for damages. I agree that I shall indemnify KCRG, its employees, agents, representatives and affiliates from any and all expenses KCRG may incur as a result of comments I post which violate this policy, claims and/or damages, including but not limited to reasonable attorney’s fees and costs. KCRG is not responsible for the contents posted or anything arising out of the use of the contents or other interaction and has no obligation or duty to monitor or control any posting but does reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove, or edit user generated comment.

Athlete of the Week
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
More On Demand

What's On KCRG

6:00
KCRG-TV9 Morning News
7:00
Good Morning America
9:00
Regis & Kelly
10:00
The View