“I had the privilege of matching with Julia, whose story significantly moved me, and through our conversations, I felt a deep connection. When we finally met, it seemed we had known each other for a long time. One moment that stood out to me was when Julia shared how she and Frank took walks together every day, a ritual that became central to their relationship. While I typically work intuitively, often avoiding literal representations, for the first time, I felt compelled to bring this sentiment into the artwork.

Gudrun’s journey with Twist Out Cancer began shortly after her first diagnosis of Breast Cancer over six years ago. Gudrun has always held a deep belief in the power of integrative medicine. As a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, she understands the importance of addressing not just the physical symptoms of cancer, but also the emotional and spiritual impact it can have.

"From Howard's journey, we learn the immense power of the human mind and our authority in shaping our path, even amidst formidable challenges. To fight, love, inspire, and remember, you too are Light."

Cancer is all-encompassing and it can be the loneliest place in the world, but don't isolate. Reach out and find your place your way or anything that helps you through. Finding amazing friends in communities I never knew existed and allowing myself to escape for periods of time has been the best lesson in dealing with cancer but also with life.

When a good friend told me about Brushes with Cancer, I knew immediately I wanted to participate. I didn’t know what would come of it, but I hoped the experience would bring me clarity and an opportunity to reflect on my experience with cancer. Although it’s only been a few months since meeting the artist and mentor I will work with this year, what I’ve discovered so far is that sharing my experience with illness to those willing to listen is powerful. Even more powerful is the process of turning that experience into art. Illness is something that feels completely out of our hands, but taking our story and giving it texture and color, helps us seize back the control over our story. It’s like flipping the script. We decide how we want the world to see our story versus the world deciding how to see our story.

My father's cancer diagnosis changed my life forever. He was and will always be my best friend and hero. Throughout his diagnosis, he sacrificed so much for one more second with all of us. Even in his time in hospice, he prioritized our comfort over his own. Since his death, my whole family has found ourselves lost, battling against the waves of emotions flowing through our lives.