At The Max Foundation, increasing global access to treatment for people around the world living with cancer is a core element of our mission. But access to treatment is only one piece in helping all people facing cancer live with dignity and hope. Fostering care and support for patients processing the hardships of cancer is essential.
The Colors of Hope Art Collection began as a project of The Max Foundation in 2005 in an effort to provide a creative outlet for people impacted by a cancer diagnosis. Through the Colors of Hope Art Collection, people living with cancer and their caregivers are invited to convey their experience through art. Since the project’s inception, we have received over 2,000 works of art that tell a complex yet common story. From fear and confusion, to acceptance and love, the emotional spectrum shared through the artwork provides a glimpse into the artists’ struggles and hope.
For their 2015 journal covers, The Lancet Oncology is featuring pieces from the Colors of Hopegallery. We are excited to see each monthly issue feature a different piece of art, and for that art to be shared with cancer practitioners and the community more broadly. Scroll through the gallery above to see the covers released so far and visit The Lancet Oncology for future issues. Read more about the Colors of Hope Art Collection.
The Max Foundation is a leading global health nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating health equity. For 28 years, Max has pioneered practical, scalable, high-quality solutions to bring life-extending treatments and patient-centered health care to more than 100,000 people living with cancer and critical illness in low- and middle-income countries. Max believes in a world where all people can access high-impact medicines, where geography is not destiny, and where everyone can strive for health with dignity and with hope.
In April of 2015, a magnitude-7.8 earthquake, known as the Gorkha earthquake, devastated Nepal, crumbling multi-story buildings in its capital, Kathmandu. In the midst of the aftermath, Nabin, a 41-year-old pharmacist living in a village outside of Kathmandu, struggled to find a remedy for a persistent fever and cough. Roads were covered with rubble, and….
Antonia was three years old when she was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, and 4 years old when she attended her first Maximize Life Campaign event in Nicaragua. Her mother’s testimony inspired everyone present, but what was most surprising was the testimony that followed – Antonia’s: “Hello, my name is Antonia, and I am happy to be here!” After getting to know her, every member of Alas de Vida adopted Antonia as their own example to follow. She became The Princess, the little warrior who spreads optimism in the group.
Health systems around the world are strained due to the high burden of costs. In an attempt to guide decision-makers in their choices on behalf of patients, the topic of value frameworks was born. These value frameworks evaluate all aspects of cancer treatment: clinical benefit, side effects, and improvement in patient symptoms or quality of life. But given the complexities of the multitude of health systems around the world, it is not a straightforward discussion. And right now, it’s a dialogue driven by thought leaders and health economists from the US and Europe. But there are critical voices is missing from this discussion: patients and patient advocates.
