VOA标准英语2009年-Houston Cancer Hospital Uses Art to Ease P

By Greg Flakus
Houston
20 October 2009

For many people, a cancer diagnosis¹ can be as devastating² as the disease itself, and many patients struggle to be upbeat as they face debilitating³ treatment and, sometimes, the prospect⁴ of death. M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, a top cancer hospital, has found a way of helping⁵ patients remain optimistic through art classes taught by professional artists. Focusing on creativity helps many patients forget about their cancer, if only for a few hours.

Mary Jane Willard is a breast cancer survivor⁶. She has a new lease on life and a new way of expressing herself.

She's learning Chinese ink art through M.D. Anderson's COLLAGE⁷ program, also known as the Art for Cancer Network.

 
Mary Jane Willard
"It relaxes you, it relaxes me," she said. "I have learned a lot of different things with the art, Chinese ink art, and I have made a lot of friends."

The class is taught by Peihong Dong Endris, an artist who learned the technique growing up in China.

Endris says the class helps patients forget about their daily struggle with disease and find comfort in their creativity.

"I think from this class, even if for some people it is difficult at times, they can get some short time peace," she said.

The students say they love this art form and their teacher.

 
Peihong Dong Endris teaching an art class to cancer patients
"She is very good. She helps you go step by step and with each person she demonstrates, too, she gives you that opportunity," she added.

George Spaulding, a New Orleans native fighting lung and bone cancer, says these classes keep him from feeling confined.

"It gets me out from the room we are staying in and gets my mind more active," he said. "I enjoy art and so this is a different kind of art I am trying to learn."

Although there are other art therapy programs, this one focuses on the art, rather than the therapy.

Having professional artists teach these classes was the idea of Doctor Jennifer Wheler. She established COLLAGE three years ago.

"Whereas art therapy has a specifically therapeutic⁸ intent, the COLLAGE is really all about having fun," she said.

Studies have shown that improvements in mood and outlook can help a patient fight disease. And although no scientific studies have been carried out on this program, Dr. Wheler says she thinks it helps.

"It can't hurt, it can only help, and scientists are trying to be a little more rigorous about quantifying the effect," she added.

Some patients hope to emulate⁹ Endris in assembling a portfolio¹⁰ they can eventually show to friends.

Since the COLLAGE program started in 2006, more than 1,000 people have participated and several artists are on staff as instructors¹¹.

1 diagnosis   

n.诊断，诊断结果，调查分析，判断

参考例句：

• His symptoms gave no obvious pointer to a possible diagnosis.他的症状无法作出明确的诊断。
• The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做一次彻底的调查分析。

2 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

3 debilitating   

a.使衰弱的

参考例句：

• The debilitating disease made him too weak to work. 这个令他衰弱的病，使他弱到没有办法工作。
• You may soon leave one debilitating condition or relationship forever. 你即将永远地和这段霉运说拜拜了。

4 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

5 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

6 survivor   

n.生存者，残存者，幸存者

参考例句：

• The sole survivor of the crash was an infant.这次撞车的惟一幸存者是一个婴儿。
• There was only one survivor of the plane crash.这次飞机失事中只有一名幸存者。

7 collage   

n.拼贴画；v.拼贴；把……创作成拼贴画

参考例句：

• A collage of coloured paper covers a table top.一副彩纸拼贴画盖在桌面上。
• He has used a mixture of mosaic,collage and felt-tip pen.他混合使用了马赛克、拼贴画和毡头笔。

8 therapeutic   

adj.治疗的，起治疗作用的；对身心健康有益的

参考例句：

• Therapeutic measures were selected to fit the patient.选择治疗措施以适应病人的需要。
• When I was sad,music had a therapeutic effect.我悲伤的时候，音乐有治疗效力。

9 emulate   

v.努力赶上或超越，与…竞争；效仿

参考例句：

• You must work hard to emulate your sister.你必须努力工作，赶上你姐姐。
• You must look at the film and try to emulate his behavior.你们必须观看这部电影，并尽力模仿他的动作。

10 portfolio   

n.公事包；文件夹；大臣及部长职位

参考例句：

• He remembered her because she was carrying a large portfolio.他因为她带着一个大公文包而记住了她。
• He resigned his portfolio.他辞去了大臣职务。

11 instructors   

指导者，教师( instructor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The instructors were slacking on the job. 教员们对工作松松垮垮。
• He was invited to sit on the rostrum as a representative of extramural instructors. 他以校外辅导员身份，被邀请到主席台上。