Mick Lorusso’s presentation introduced many elements of non-medical treatments of cancer and other illnesses. From prayer to dance to drawing to diet, patients with the entire spectrum of illnesses have used mental power to conquer their ailments. While some people contribute their success towards their specific activity and expect to see success in others as well.
Medicine is Subjective
By Alon Kashanian
Sorry for not posting this yesterday! I had trouble accessing the website.
Addressing cancer involves finding cures, engaging in preventative measures, and pursuing greater efforts to educate the public about the disease. That there exists such numerous and varied ways to beat cancer is testament to the existence of a strong collective human desire to overcome this physically and emotionally testing disease. In addition to such treatments as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, there are many proposed cures for cancer, some of which lie outside the bounds of conventional medicine.
Last Thursday, Mick Lorusso, was kind enough to share some of his art work in nanodiamonds with us. The first thing we need to address is, “What is Cancer?”. The answer to this question can be as simple as, “Cancer is a type of disease that is a result of uncontrolled cell proliferation that eventually vexes the individual’s health”. However, the above definition is how I would generally define cancer. In actuality, they’re many cancer types and cancer diseases; to that end, many approaches to treating cancer.
This week we once again explored the fascinating intersection between science and art. We even took a step further, looking at the implication of art in the treatment for cancer. Like many, I tend to think of art as something tangible and concrete, or something that pertains to the senses, like a piece of production that is excites vision or a melody that is pleasing to the ear.
Role of Nutrition in Cancer Prevention and Treatment
Abstract Water
Water is known to be crucial for terrestrial life. Life follows, thrives off of, and dies without water. Due to our bodies being mostly made up of water, it is the general solvent for life’s metabolisms and anabolisms. Water gained this most important role through its abundance in aquatic life and due to chemical and physical properties.
This week we had the pleasure of doing a workshop with Mick Lorusso, who invited us to think about how biotechnology and art can come together in creating methods of treatment, be it clinical or palliative, for cancer.
In Phillips Ball’s Why Water is Weird, he brings u many speculations of and theories of what water is. While Javiera Tejerina captures the expression of water through video recordings. Taking these two different aspects of water, I ponder on the beauty of this liquid. The reason why water is weird is well explained by Phillip; water’s polarity and its ability to donate and accept hydrogen bonds makes it unique. Consequently, its solid form is less dense then its liquid form.
This week’s topic on nanodiamonds (NDs) and their role in cancer treatment was incredibly fascinating. Mick Lorusso introduced the class to not only the scientific characteristics of nanodiamonds, but also to alternative treatments to cancer such as meditation and visualizing healthy cells, both of which focus on the main theme for the class—art in action of treatment. Nanodiamonds are currently being tested and administered for not only their medical capabilities, but for other practical uses as well.
For the activity combining biotechnology and art this week, the group I was in ended up making a picture book which would explain how cancer and gene therapy to children. We also included an origami virus to show how vectors work and to decrease fear by letting the patient play with it.
