A musician with breast cancer reflects on the power of music in our health and healing.
PUBLISHED May 03, 2018
Khevin Barnes is a Male Breast Cancer survivor, magician and speaker. He is currently writing, composing and producing a comedy stage musical about Male Breast Cancer Awareness. He travels wherever he is invited to speak to (and do a little magic for) men and women about breast cancer. www.BreastCancerSpeaker.com www.MaleBreastCancerSurvivor.com
I've been a musician and songwriter for over 50 years, and I've had male breast cancer for less than five years. But as I look back at my compositions since my diagnosis, I can see a distinct pattern emerge. My first song, written before the stitches had been removed from my left breast, was a comedy piece, filled with puns and good humor about my predicament. Called "What Good is a Breast?" the song embodied a strange giddiness I was experiencing, with my emotions running high and with my disease still fresh and unknown to a great extent. It made me laugh.
A few days later, the seriousness of my cancer began to set in, and I began to question what the future would be like, not only for me, but for my wife, if I were to die soon. "What Shall I Leave Behind?" became my ballad of sadness, allowing me to question what was of value in my life, and what and how I would choose to be remembered.
A few days later, the seriousness of my cancer began to set in, and I began to question what the future would be like, not only for me, but for my wife, if I were to die soon. "What Shall I Leave Behind?" became my ballad of sadness, allowing me to question what was of value in my life, and what and how I would choose to be remembered.
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