The Power of Your Other Hand: An Artist's Cancer Journey: James's Story

I recently received this very touching letter from James Broehl, an artist who lives in Mexico. He shares how he has used his non-dominant hand while recovering from cancer affecting the right side of his body. Here is James's experience, including a sample of his pre-cancer art using the dominant hand, and art using the non-dominant hand while recovering from cancer.

Hello Lucia,

I was drawn to your book The Power of Your Other Hand as I have begun doing art again, with my left hand now. Last May, after a year plus of coughing, a tumor pushed up under my right lymph area. I have been an artist for the last 20 years seriously, as a creative process. This physical condition cut off the main nerve of my right arm and hand, and it went limp. After going to stage four, the cancer traveled to seven body parts. Fortunately, I went to the Dana Farber Cancer Center (DFCC) in Boston where they diagnosed my cancer as ALK (non smokers lung cancer) which is rare. Only 1% of cancers are of this type. The DFCC had a recovery medicine which went to all areas, including brain and spine and I shot back up in 2 weeks. So fast it was disorienting. They said the nerves would grow back, but would take a year in my right hand. The medicine would kill or contain the cancer.

Being a proactive character, one day I noticed my left hand writing my name with perfect script. I had not even requested this. I thought, why don’t I try painting left handed? I have been doing this now for 8 months. At first you see new things, new slightly awkward styles. I liked what I saw. With my left (non-dominant) hand, I seemed more free to express than I had after 20 years of art school and practice with the right (dominant) hand. I still continue with my left hand, because the pincer grasp of my right hand is still the last to come.

There is no way for me to express what it is like to discover a new part of oneself and accept it fully. Lately I gave a talk at an art forum putting up similar images done with left and right hands and I allowed observers to make comments. Most liked the new left-handed art, some said it was more childlike, free. What was amazing also is I encountered a new personality in myself, a more benevolent one. Somehow the use of left-handed painting had tapped into an area of my right brain where I became more compassionate.

As the right hand forges back I try to keep the positive things I saw about myself and life going. I have not yet tried right hand painting, but soon I hope painting will be a shared dialogue, as you mention in your book. I’m at page 81 now.

We take for granted the use of arm and hand as well as the whole body. So many muscles and commands take place instantly. Also, when you go to near death and return it makes you appreciate every moment. I now want to live and learn where my creativity and curiosity take me. Thanks for being curious yourself and writing this book. The power of body/brain is amazing.

If you have any questions that you are curious about please send them to me.

James Broehl
Ajijic, Mexico / Boston
jbroehl@hotmail.com

The non-dominant hand is waiting patiently for a chance to be dominant, and it expresses a different creativity. I believe the functions are different for each side of the brain. At first it's hard to accept, as one is very critical of the new hand. But with time it goes more quickly where you want to go; I believe into uncharted expression. —James Broehl