Tell Your Story with "ScART"

Women who have had cancer are invited to participate in this emotionally empowering activity called "Scar Art" -- ScART. ScART is a painting activity where women are given the opportunity (through a homework assignment) to examine and draw their surgery scars, which are then transferred by Painting with a Twist artists to canvas. Participants gather with other survivors to look at their scars through a new lens, and create beautiful, custom works of art. This program helps women gather in a safe place with other cancer survivors to share their stories, embrace where they have been, and unite as a sisterhood.

COST: $45, which includes a 10 minute homework assignment created by a licensed social worker, supplies, 3 hours of painting, a custom piece of art that tells your story, plus a private ScART Facebook page for women cancer survivors.

The psychology behind ScART:

Emotional healing from surgical scars varies from person to person. For some people, scars are tucked away, never to be thought of again. For others, scars can be a daily reminder of cancer and its after-effects. It is a process to go through - and although it is often hard to embrace scars, it is possible to accept them. Psychologically women need a sense of balance between thinking everyone is looking at their scar all the time and allowing it to define them, not being held back by it.

In order to move on, it's important to acknowledge scars rather than simply hide them away. Research indicates that more than 62% of women said their scar affected their body confidence. Interestingly, men often wear their scars as a war wound, or see it as character building. Men accept it much more than women, no matter how they got their scar - it doesn't define them.

Quite often, women allow scars to let them lose confidence. Imagine how great it would be to see women taking on more of a man's approach to their scarring. One way to accept scarring is to be surrounded by others who who have the same experience. Sharing with others who empathize is always better coming from someone who has been gone through it, too. Participating in support groups alongside professional help is the best way to deal with this experience. Psychologists suggest that taking time to look and touch the scar is the first step to acceptance.

We welcome each of you on this journey of acceptance. Every scar tells a story! Thank you for sharing yours!

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