Creative activities and emotional well-being

Creative and cultural activities can be a meaningful part of your healing journey. They are not “extras” or luxuries. Instead, they can support your emotional well-being, help you cope with treatment, and offer moments of comfort and connection during a difficult time. Choosing activities that you genuinely enjoy, like listening to music, drawing, reading, gardening, joining a choir, or taking part in a creative workshop, can make treatment periods and follow-up feel more manageable and more meaningful.

Art therapy and guided creative spaces

Creative therapies and activities can offer a gentle, non-verbal way to process emotions that are difficult to express. Research shows that they can reduce anxiety, depression, and pain, while providing a sense of relaxation and calm. Making or enjoying art can also help you reconnect with your identity beyond the illness, reminding you of what you enjoy, what inspires you, and what makes you feel like yourself. Studies in women with breast cancer show that creative arts interventions can improve quality of life, resilience, and the ability to cope with both physical and emotional challenges.^1,2

Art therapy is one example of how creativity can support well-being. It offers a safe, non-verbal way to explore emotions, reduce anxiety and pain, and improve quality of life. You do not need to be “good at art” to benefit; what matters is simply the act of creating, expressing, and connecting with yourself.

For example, the Progetto Amazzone is an Italian initiative that brings together women with breast cancer through theatre, art, writing, and shared creative workshops. The project encourages participants to explore their experiences in a supportive and artistic environment, helping shift the focus from illness to personal strength, identity, and expression. Many women describe it as a way to rediscover themselves, connect with others, and find meaning and hope through creativity.

Taking part in activities such as art, music, dance, writing, theatre, crafts, gardening, or even visiting a museum or a concert can help you express feelings, reduce stress, and reconnect with parts of your life that feel overshadowed by cancer.²

Sources

1. Cheng, P., Xu, L., Zhang, J., Liu, W. & Zhu, J. Role of Arts Therapy in Patients with Breast and Gynecological Cancers: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J. Palliat. Med. 24, 443–452 (2021).
2. Wood, M. J. M., Molassiotis, A. & Payne, S. What research evidence is there for the use of art therapy in the management of symptoms in adults with cancer? A systematic review. Psychooncology. 20, 135–145 (2011).