The diagnosis of incurable cancer profoundly disrupts the life of patients. An important aspect of this experience is the way the diagnosis conflicts with personal aspirations and one’s life goals.

In a previously KWF-funded project, "In Search of Stories (ISOS)," spiritual caregivers and artists supported patients in finding meaning through the ISOS intervention. This involved, among others, reading of exemplary stories from the world literature and the making an artwork by a professional artist in co-creation with the patient. Although patients felt greatly supported by the ISOS intervention, some were unable to complete the necessary in-person visits due to physical limitations.

The Dutch Cancer Foundation (KWF) has awarded €141.896 to Prof. Dr. Hanneke van Laarhoven to make the ISOS intervention online available for all cancer patients in the palliative phase. Among others, an online exhibition will be designed, dedicated to the artworks created during the previous ISOS project.

Learn more about the project: In Search of Stories | HKU

Fotografie: Marlou Pulles

Prof. Dr. Hanneke van Laarhoven, medical oncologist and head of the department of Medical Oncology

This text was created for Cancer Center Amsterdam

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