Battling Breast Cancer: Survivor Journeys Reflected Through Art

The journey to overcome breast cancer is a road that no woman should travel alone. And to share their stories of survival, women from Kelsey-Seybold Clinic’s Breast Cancer Support Group used the canvas.

Members of the group created works of art to express their battle with cancer and the joy of life after beating it. An art exhibit showcased these works on Oct. 8, 2009 in the Rotunda of Kelsey-Seybold Clinic’s Main Campus at 2727 West Holcombe Boulevard.

Three of the artists were on hand to share their tumultuous struggle to battle despair, but with the help of a welcoming support system, they gained the hope and strength they needed for survival.

At age 38, Frances Arzu looked around the Kelsey-Seybold Breast Diagnostic Center only to see that she was the youngest patient in a waiting room of post-menopausal women. Nobody looked like her.

But Dr. Treneth Baker, her surgeon, told her not to let her concerns handicap her. She took this advice to heart.

The Sugar Land resident wants people to see that life can be great after receiving a positive diagnosis. Her openness to try new things and explore the opportunities life has given her are reflected in her artwork.

“Breast cancer is such an individual disease,” says Frances who, at the time she created the piece, was celebrating the completion of her breast reconstruction. “The picture was about me and my journey with breast cancer, before and after.”

A four-year survivor, Frances is now an active advocate of breast cancer awareness and is an active member of an all-breast cancer survivor competitive dragon boat racing team, Pink Phurree.

“My life now is different than before I was diagnosed,” Frances said. “I was not a pink person, but now, pink is my favorite color.”

In 2008, when Bellaire area resident Mercy Siaotong was diagnosed with breast cancer, no one was around for her to share her distressing news. Her husband was out with her son, and when she called her relatives, nobody was home to answer the phone.

Unable to contain her emotion, she broke down in tears. But when the crying finally stopped, she composed herself and prayed.

“God, I don’t like this, but if this is what you’re giving me, I’ll accept it,” Mercy prayed. “But I don’t like it.”

Before beginning chemotherapy, she joined the Kelsey-Seybold Breast Cancer Support Group.

“It helped me tremendously,” said the two-year member. “You’re able to express your feelings, and you quickly find out that those feelings are normal. These women have experienced exactly what I am going through.”

Healing Through Art

Mercy Siaotong claims she’s not artistic. But when given magazines for her collage assignment, she was immediately drawn to the first photo she flipped to. It showed a group of women dancing rejoicingly in a circle and it reminded her of her friends in the Breast Cancer Support Group.

Her artwork represents the support she has through her family, friends, church, co-workers and the Breast Cancer Support Group at Kelsey-Seybold Clinic.
If the cancer comes back, Mercy says she’s now equipped with the support system and mentality to handle it. What she’s learned, she is now able to pass on to others.

“It really made me stronger,” she says. “Life is good, so no matter what the day brings, rejoice and be glad in it.”