SurvivorNetTV Presents: SN & You - Music and Art: Reflecting On Your Journey
- SurvivorNetTV presents Music and Art: Reflecting On Your Journey, an episode from our original series SN & You that shares cancer survivors’ stories about the importance of music and art during their cancer journey.
- Follow five people as they explain the positive impacts music and art had on their cancer journey.
- Learning how to express yourself during difficult times is empowering.
Sometimes you just need a little inspiration to make it through the day. That’s the case for many women fighting breast cancer, and this film about the power of music and art is just the boost you need.
Presenting SurvivorNetTV’s original series SN & You. In this episode, Music and Art: Reflecting On Your Journey, we follow Marianne Cuoozo, Bianca Muniz, Joel Naftelberg, Marquina Iliev-Piselli and Matthew Zachary as they reflect on the impact music and art had on their cancer journey. While going through breast cancer treatment, it can be challenging to keep a positive attitude when you’re feeling worn out from treatment. These survivors have been in your shoes and have tips to help get you through.
Marianne Cuozzo is a mother, an artist, and a three-time cancer survivor. Her first cancer diagnosis came at the age of 28 and she had a recurrence a few years later. Then in 2014, Cuozzo got breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy and reconstruction. After suffering with numerous infections, she opted to “go flat.” Through some difficult times, Cuozzo found art to be a tool to help express herself in ways she didn’t want to do verbally.
Singer/songwriter Bianca Muniz is a two-time cancer survivor. She had ovarian cancer at 11, was diagnosed at 22 with breast cancer and was diagnosed with lung cancer at 24. Throughout her struggle with cancer, music has been her savior.
While Marianne and Bianca chose art and music, air guitar was Marquina Iliev-Piselli’s calling. Playing the air guitar allowed Marquina to dress up in fun, whacky outfits, try on different personas, and really stay in touch with herself during a tough time. “With cancer specifically, every couple weeks I would grab a bunch of different clothes that were donated and bring them to the hospital and would just try to make something happen in those six to eight hours while I was in the hospital. It was glam rock chemo,” Marquina says. “I air guitared [during] my chemo, and it saved my spirit. It made it so I don’t look back on that time with fear.”
We later see Joel Naftelberg, a pancreatic cancer survivor, who saw music as his lifeline after his first cancer diagnosis. “It doesn’t necessarily solve anything, but it does let us dance on our problems for at least an hour or two,” he says. Joel has undergone treatment for both liver and pancreatic cancer. He compares his cancer to a monster, saying it has affected every aspect of his life. However, he hasn’t allowed his disease to take over his life. Joel handles cancer by taking it one day at a time–and of course, by making time to feed his love of music.
Lastly, we hear from Matthew Zachary, CEO and founder of Stupid Cancer. When he was facing brain cancer as a 21-year-old college student, he noticed a lack of resources for people in his situation — that’s how he got into advocacy. Through being his own advocate and asking questions during his treatment, he was able to find alternative solutions that would give him the ability to continue pursing his passion, piano.
Marianne Cuozzo, Bianca Muniz, Joel Naftelberg, Marquina Iliev-Piselli and Matthew Zachary share inspiration and hope through their stories. These are tales you should not miss on SurvivorNetTV.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
SurvivorNetTV Presents: SN & You - Music and Art: Reflecting On Your Journey
- SurvivorNetTV presents Music and Art: Reflecting On Your Journey, an episode from our original series SN & You that shares cancer survivors’ stories about the importance of music and art during their cancer journey.
- Follow five people as they explain the positive impacts music and art had on their cancer journey.
- Learning how to express yourself during difficult times is empowering.
Sometimes you just need a little inspiration to make it through the day. That’s the case for many women fighting breast cancer, and this film about the power of music and art is just the boost you need.
Presenting SurvivorNetTV’s original series SN & You. In this episode, Music and Art: Reflecting On Your Journey, we follow Marianne Cuoozo, Bianca Muniz, Joel Naftelberg, Marquina Iliev-Piselli and Matthew Zachary as they reflect on the impact music and art had on their cancer journey. While going through breast cancer treatment, it can be challenging to keep a positive attitude when you’re feeling worn out from treatment. These survivors have been in your shoes and have tips to help get you through.
Read More Marianne Cuozzo is a mother, an artist, and a three-time cancer survivor. Her first cancer diagnosis came at the age of 28 and she had a recurrence a few years later. Then in 2014, Cuozzo got breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy and reconstruction. After suffering with numerous infections, she opted to “go flat.” Through some difficult times, Cuozzo found art to be a tool to help express herself in ways she didn’t want to do verbally.
Singer/songwriter Bianca Muniz is a two-time cancer survivor. She had ovarian cancer at 11, was diagnosed at 22 with breast cancer and was diagnosed with lung cancer at 24. Throughout her struggle with cancer, music has been her savior.
While Marianne and Bianca chose art and music, air guitar was Marquina Iliev-Piselli’s calling. Playing the air guitar allowed Marquina to dress up in fun, whacky outfits, try on different personas, and really stay in touch with herself during a tough time. “With cancer specifically, every couple weeks I would grab a bunch of different clothes that were donated and bring them to the hospital and would just try to make something happen in those six to eight hours while I was in the hospital. It was glam rock chemo,” Marquina says. “I air guitared [during] my chemo, and it saved my spirit. It made it so I don’t look back on that time with fear.”
We later see Joel Naftelberg, a pancreatic cancer survivor, who saw music as his lifeline after his first cancer diagnosis. “It doesn’t necessarily solve anything, but it does let us dance on our problems for at least an hour or two,” he says. Joel has undergone treatment for both liver and pancreatic cancer. He compares his cancer to a monster, saying it has affected every aspect of his life. However, he hasn’t allowed his disease to take over his life. Joel handles cancer by taking it one day at a time–and of course, by making time to feed his love of music.
Lastly, we hear from Matthew Zachary, CEO and founder of Stupid Cancer. When he was facing brain cancer as a 21-year-old college student, he noticed a lack of resources for people in his situation — that’s how he got into advocacy. Through being his own advocate and asking questions during his treatment, he was able to find alternative solutions that would give him the ability to continue pursing his passion, piano.
Marianne Cuozzo, Bianca Muniz, Joel Naftelberg, Marquina Iliev-Piselli and Matthew Zachary share inspiration and hope through their stories. These are tales you should not miss on SurvivorNetTV.
Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.
