Chris O’Brien Lifehouse: Cancer program resumes for those in need

Coronavirus wreaked havoc on the community in the inner west, but some of our most vulnerable are back enjoying the one thing that kept them going during hard times.

Arts Minister Don Harwin and others at Chris O'Brien Lifehouse in Camperdown on Monday.

Patients suffering from cancer in Sydney’s inner west are resuming a much-needed program halted by the coronavirus pandemic after it left “a huge gap in their lives”.

Patients at Camperdown’s Chris O’Brien Lifehouse have today resumed its ‘arterie’ program designed at using art to help ease the horrible side-effects of treatment for the debilitating disease.

The benefits, among many, are easing stress, fatigue, isolation and depression which normally come with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

When it was running earlier this year patients said it distracted them from the concerns of every day life and performing art in a group setting was impacting their social connections.

Lifehouse’s new artist in residence Ro Geddes.

“Using the arts is such a simple, effective and accessible way to enhance a hospital environment. It may be watching and talking to an artist in residence creating a work, looking at and discussing an installation on the wall or taking part in a group workshop with others,” the program’s co-founder Amanda Solomon said.

“It’s beneficial to everyone who enters the hospital environment, whether they are patients, carers, clinical or admin staff or cafe workers or cleaners. The program gives people the choice of a passive or participatory experience, so people can benefit at their own comfort level.”

The program was relaunched on Monday by Arts Minister Don Harwin and staff at Lifehouse who had spent months waiting for its return.

Lifehouse is also about to welcome an artist in residence to the charity, who will set up in a public space within the hospital with patients.

Arts Minister Don Harwin getting involved in the first session back

“The benefits of practising art in healthcare are well known and my experience is that those benefits are amplified when the intensity of the healthcare experience is dialled up, as it is in cancer care,” Director of Radiation Oncology Associate Professor Chris Milross said.

“I passionately believe in the transformative power of the arts and seeing the transformative power of creative expression in action here today is not only a lot of fun but it’s a privilege as well,” Mr Harwin said.