The emotional life of chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND

Cancer treatment is often described in biomedical language, while its emotional textures remain less visible. Experiences such as waiting, bodily changes, fatigue, uncertainty, and the quiet grief of chemotherapy shape how illness is lived beyond clinical procedures.

PURPOSE: This manuscript offers a poetic reflection on the emotional life of chemotherapy, focusing on how art may help name, hold, and witness what treatment cannot fully explain.

APPROACH: Through poetic imagery centered on infusion rooms, changing bodies, and the altered temporality of treatment, the manuscript explores chemotherapy not only as medical intervention but also as an emotional condition marked by fear, endurance, vulnerability, and dignity. Art is positioned as a companion to illness, offering line, color, and language as forms of presence rather than a cure.

CONTRIBUTION: This manuscript contributes to art and health discussions by foregrounding the lived and affective dimensions of cancer care. It highlights the value of artistic expression as a humane space where patients may remain more than just diagnosis, regimen, or symptoms. In doing so, it emphasizes that the role of art in healthcare lies not only in therapeutic support but also in sustaining dignity, recognition, and emotional visibility during treatment.