Description

A little over three years ago, my [Editor] sister-in-law, Angie, was diagnosed with cervical cancer, and within 3 months of her diagnosis, she passed away. Since then, I have been surrounded by cancer—its probabilities and its possibilities for healing and transformation. So too has the public. In a culture of cultivated actions and passive actions on how to involve (or manipulate) the public with their own health, creativity often appears in the margins. Yet, the job of transforming the public’s health, particularly following a pandemic, to accommodate their real needs and fondest aspirations cannot be done if there is no room for creativity. All of us have long understood the value of creativity as a potent force for healing. We know that the goals of true public health have not been reached, but there are handwritings on the walls everywhere, all of which read, “LIGHT! LIGHT! Now!” written by the public for the public’s health.

…The creative works within this issue, the art, stories, letters, and poetry, all centered on cancer, should be seriously studied for the rich meaning they hold in the many ways to end cancer as we know it.