Carefree Artist: Can We Talk About Family Cancer History?

4/2/23

Can We Talk About Family Cancer History?

Cartoon about hereditary cancer risk in families. There's an elephant standing against the wall while family members pretend not to notice. One family member is saying: Yeah, it hangs around at all our family gatherings. “It’s messy, unpleasant and really scary, so let’s not talk about it. Maybe it won’t be a problem if we ignore it.”

The cartoon is only to get your attention and get you thinking. There’s nothing really humorous about it actually. My person, my muse, my soul mate died because detailed information about a known cancer risk was not shared.

The CURE® article is a personal narrative about something that really needs to be seriously addressed – the sharing of potentially life-saving family health history information.

https://www.curetoday.com/view/can-we-have-a-talk-about-hereditary-cancer-risks-

#hereditarycancer #BRCA2 #BRCA1 #CHEK2 #ATM #PALB2 #PTEN #TP53 #BARD1 #MLH1 #MLH2 #MSH6 #KnowledgeIsPower #previvors #cancerchangedeverything #canceradvocate #cancerprevention #cancercaregiving #genetictesting

About this blog/art journal...

The Carefree Artist is about my artistic endeavors and adventures as a professional freelance creative. Posts might feature a cartoon, or a recently published illustration from a book or magazine assignment, or an original piece of art that I might be selling to try and raise funds for my art supply donation project. All with an emphasis on originality.

Why did I name this journal the Carefree Artist*? Actually, it’s really just a wishful sentiment. A professional life in the arts, mine included, is usually anything but carefree. But oh, how wonderful it would be to really be a carefree artist! Living the simple life in a quiet and inspiring location and creating a ton of art just for art's sake!

The name was also inspired by the Carefree Highway. A road that played an important role in my life... More about this journal's name at the bottom of this page.

Please see my website, MARKiX.net, for more info and more samples of my work.

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A Note from the Artist...

As you look around this blog you can’t help but notice a distinct change in the artwork and the tone of the content over the past few years. There’s a good reason for this -- being a cancer caregiver and then the death of my wife due to hereditary cancer. A cancer that was preventable.

I never wanted this blog to be a place where I unloaded anger and sadness because of cancer and grief. I had other plans, more lighthearted and whimsical. But when you have the love of your life take their last breath in your arms because vital genetic info was not shared, it changes everything.

So, I have chosen to use my humble little corner of the world to speak up about hereditary cancer awareness and the unbearable heartache of the untimely loss of a loved one.


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