An emotional and effective 15-minute play, “The Invitation,” opened the NYU Cancer Center’s annual Lung Awareness Program. Members of the Lung Cancer Support Group played characters based on their own stories.

The play included a PowerPoint presentation with pictures, songs and poems, and a professional-looking playbill gave each actor’s story. It was how the group showed true support for each other, however, that illustrated how effective and helpful the play was to the group members. When one member got emotional the others gave hugs and prompted lines, allowing the show to go on. Singing, pictures of a professional dancer, an original poem and a drummer expressed the individual characters. During the question and answer period, the support group reiterated what the play had shown—how the support group was helping them. (Click photo to enlarge)

Art, music, drama and storytelling are therapeutic techniques used by recreational therapists, social workers and other mental health and medical professionals. In our facility, Catherine Paykin's (author) 90-minute weekly therapeutic group with patients with lung cancer became the cornerstone for artistic program development. This “Living With Lung Cancer Support Group” has been in existence for over 15 years and participants have a strong bond with the social worker. Unkindness and disruptive behavior were not tolerated. Themes and topics the group members discuss weekly include:

• Not wishing to be a burden on family or others,
• Blaming oneself for having caused their illness (real or imagined),
• Feelings of shame about how the public, family or friends perceive them or possibly blame them for their illness if they smoked,
• Caring for aging parents or children,
• Communicating effectively with their medical care givers and loved ones,
• Managing changing finances and insurance,
• Advance directives,
• How to maximize their day-to-day health, and
• How to feel relevant in today’s world and find meaning and joy in life while physically struggling.

Catherine requested input from the group to develop a creative component for a monthly educational series, mixing the medical speakers with a healing drum workshop, a writing workshop and an origami art therapy class. She also engaged the group members to take pen to paper and write their stories. Their stories give hope and encouragement to others, and are published in a quarterly newsletter. Patients, family members and doctors are the editors and writers.

The idea for the play was born when Catherine was asked to find one patient to speak at the annual Lung Awareness and Clinical Update Program hosted by the cancer center. She offered the play as an alternative to highlight the value of support groups. More than 100 people were in attendance and 49 completed an audience survey.

Comments from the audience:

• The play was awesome!!
• Touching, moving and felt genuine. I almost cried. Everyone did a wonderful job.
• Encore! Bravo! Bravo!
• That was heartwarming, touching, entertaining and educational.
• I think what really struck me the most was how significant the support and comradery has been for the members. They did a wonderful job. I hope they get Tony Nominations for best ensemble… and you for best director, producer and playwright.

More than 100 people attended the play and 40 completed and audience survey.

AUDIENCE SURVEY
How did you hear about the production?
25 percent received a hard copy of the program in the mail, 22 percent read about it in a local newspaper.
How far did you travel?
54 percent lived in Manhattan (the same borough where the program was presented), the rest came from outlying boroughs and states.  
Why did you attend?
24 percent came to hear their doctor or an expert speak, 66 percent to learn about the topics for oneself or a loved one, 11 percent to learn more about NYU’s Perlmutter Cancer Center.
Gender
40 percent male, 60 percent female
Age
8 percent were 39 years old or younger, 20 percent were between the ages of 50-59; 22 percent between 60-69, 33 percent between ages 70-79; 10 percent between ages 80-89; 2 percent over 90.
Have you had cancer?
33 percent were cancer survivors, 67 percent family, public, professionals (non-cancer survivors).
Did the play accomplish its goal to let you know that people can live with a cancer diagnosis and have social and meaningful connections after diagnosis?
98 percent yes
Did the play accomplish its goal to give you a glimpse into the workings of a support group and educate you to understand it can be an important resource for patients? 
95 percent yes

The play was an opportunity to highlight the individual strengths each member of the group can bring to the table. The fact that everyone contributed to the development of the play made it very special. This play drew from one of the cardinal social work principles—strengths-based practice. It also showed how social workers can use artistic expression as a way to help their patients. The play also brought the patients closer together, which strengthened the group.