Portraits of an illness

Abstract

Access to patients' inner lives can be expanded and enriched by incorporating the arts and humanities into the clinical encounter. A series of self-portraits created by an artist undergoing induction chemotherapy for leukemia afforded a unique opportunity to concentrate one's gaze upon the patient as a stimulus for reflection on suffering and isolation of patients. Poetry and theater were also invaluable in expanding the physician's awareness of the shared experience of illness. The process highlights the central role of the "New Humanities" in modern medicine, where science informs the arts and the arts inform science and medicine.

Fig. 1

Hospital admission for chemotherapy of Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Fig. 2

Insertion of central catheter for infusions and blood sampling.

Fig. 3

Initiation of 7 day course of chemotherapy.

Fig. 4

Chemotherapy associated with falling blood counts.

Fig. 5

Leukemic cells cleared from peripheral blood.

Fig. 6

Fever in setting of low white cell counts antibiotics initiated.

Fig. 7

Chemotherapy completed.

Fig. 8

Rash secondary to drug allergy.

Fig. 9

Aaron's gaze, days 5, 7, 10.

Fig. 10

A waiting bone marrow study to determine success/failure.

Fig. 11

Bone marrow aspiration performed.

Fig. 12

Persistent leukemia: Initiation of 2^nd course of chemotherapy.

Fig. 13

Completion of 2^nd course of chemotherapy.

Fig. 14

Severe reduction in cell counts. Red cell and platelet support and antibiotics.

Fig. 15

Marrow free of leukemia Discharge: Day 37.