Art helps Bernie to ease cancer trauma

Art helps Bernie to ease cancer trauma

2 April 2014

ARDGLASS mother of three Bernie Mulhall was just 51 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

Although she had had concerns for several months about an indentation on her breast, Bernie had been too busy looking after her elderly mother to give it much thought.

It was only when a mobile screening unit came to Downpatrick that she called in to be assessed. Two weeks later she was given a scan and biopsy that confirmed she had breast cancer.

She found the diagnosis so surreal that she went shopping afterwards with her sisters and later that night her neighbour called over and they had a party. As a way of distracting herself from the reality of her diagnosis, she also went ahead with a holiday in Lanzarote before returning home to fully face what lay ahead. That was in March 2012 and it was only on her return from holiday, when she immediately began chemotherapy, that Bernie admits the “flood gates opened.”

“It was such a shock — I just hadn’t expected it, I never imagined it would be full-blown cancer,” she said.

“I went into survival mode. I come from a large family and they were all devastated by the news but everyone has been so supportive. I’m the first person in our family to get cancer.

“Telling my husband and the children was tough. I didn’t want them to be worried about me.”

Since then, Bernie has undergone surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy and she has been placed on a five year course of the anticancer drug Tamoxifen.

Alongside these conventional treatments, she has also been very surprised to discover the therapeutic benefit of art through courses offered by Cancer Focus Northern Ireland.

Although she is married to artist, William Mulhall, Bernie said she initially felt like a “fish out of water” when she decided to try the classes after reading about Cancer Focus’s courses through the Down Recorder.

She appreciated being in a non-hospital environment, enjoyed the relaxation of chatting to other women and found the course gave her the opportunity to temporarily escape from the reality of her diagnosis.

“My husband encouraged me to go along and although I hadn’t a clue what it was all about, I got on like a house on fire with the facilitator and the other people there. I began to realise how much it would help me.

“I began by just scribbling something down — some of the others were doing beautiful pictures, though you don’t have to be able to draw or paint to come along.

“We told each other our stories, if we wanted. Some were really sad, especially when there are young children in a family.

“You feel your own predicament isn’t so bad — at least my three sons were older.

“It helped me get my feelings out of my system. I was able to talk and not feel I was burdening anybody.

“I started doing collages and I just took off. I felt able to express myself. Things came out that I didn’t even know were there. One beautiful sunshiny day we went to the beach and gathered driftwood as I wanted to use it to make a Christmas tree.

“I’ve decorated mirrors with driftwood and made various other things — anything that comes into my head.

“Now I’ve decided to lose weight and have joined a slimming club and am motivated to adopt a healthier lifestyle. I’m feeling good, though I can get days when I’m zonked. I do have the dread it might come back but you have to stay positive and keep going.”

Cancer Focus Northern Ireland is providing an art therapy service, free of charge, for cancer patients in Downpatrick and the surrounding area.

The art therapy group will meet at Downe Hospital each Wednesday from April 9 to May 14 from 2.30pm to 4.30pm.

Caryl Steele, art therapist with Cancer Focus, said there is no need to be artistic to enjoy the benefits of the course, which she said could help people communicate anxiety or stress.

“Many of those taking part find the creative process relaxing and they can unwind while chatting to others who are in a similar situation,” she said.

“We know that cancer affects everyone differently. It can make people feel that they have lost control, increase feelings of isolation and can often lower a person’s self-esteem.

“However research has shown that creating art can have a positive impact - improving a patient’s physical, mental and emotional well-being.

“For many cancer patients this can result in a better understanding of their illness and coming to terms with the disease and the future.”