Poetry Book

"A Pathway to Healing: An Anthology of Poetry and Prose is a collection of expressive writing and art by participants in the workshop entitled "Writing Through the Cancer Journey", at MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute (TCI), Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. The eight-week session, held three times a year, offers ways for participants to explore and share their thoughts and emotions concerning diagnosis, treatment, and healing. Literary forms and prompts are introduced, along with mindfulness meditation and articles about wellbeing and creative expression, for attendees to respond to their grave and unpredictable illnesses. As a group, they explore their deepest joys and worries about their personal journeys as they practice expressive writing in a safe and supportive environment. "Writing Through the Cancer Journey" has been offered by Margaret Towner since 2015. Facilitating workshops in wellbeing and education for years, she has a wealth of experience along with her own insights as a cancer survivor and published writer. Recent research has shown that expressive writing is helpful in reducing stress and anxiety, ameliorating physical symptoms, and strengthening the possibility of recovery and well-being. Backed by these findings, Margaret is a firm believer that creative expression, and in particular writing, can help patients turn toward resilience, tranquility, and potential healing. Expressive writing is supported by Mariusz Wirga M.D., Medical Director of Psychosocial Oncology at TCI. His programs, "Beat the Odds" and "Boost the Odds", offer patients pathways toward physical and emotional well-being. "Writing Through the Cancer Journey" uses expressive writing as an additional pathway of support for patients. During the workshop, the idea evolved to publish a book to share writing with a broader audience. The courageous contributors to this book have been participants in all these programs, and in the writing workshop they have found ways to express their rich insights about themselves in literary forms such as haiku, free verse, journaling, and storytelling. The selections in this book include writings about diagnosis, treatment, living with uncertainty, finding simple pleasures, resilience, life's vital activities, and love, along with the participants' own visual art."