Fighting Cancer Woodblock Prints by Dale Phelps
November 2, 2006
This series of woodblock prints concerns visualization during meditation for the treatment of cancer. I have been living with prostate cancer since 1993 but it has recently increased its activity. Along with traditional medical treatments I have been utilizing guided imagery in meditation. I produced these images to help me with visualization during imaging. With this and other modalities I have brought my cancer under reasonable control.
Thank you,
Dale Phelps
editor’s note: Dale’s wonderful woodcuts are displayed outside our offices here in Kansas City.
“Tracking them Down”
12" x 8.5"
Dale Phelps, is a retired Iowa orthopedic surgeon and prostate cancer survivor.
“This print depicts a Natural Killer cell searching out and destroying hidden cancer cells”
“The Bone Mason”
12" x 8.5"
Dale Phelps, is a retired Iowa orthopedic surgeon and prostate cancer survivor.
“This image depicts the body repairing the bone damaged by the cancer cells”
“Return from the far side”
8.5" x 12"
Dale Phelps, is a retired Iowa orthopedic surgeon and prostate cancer survivor.
“The Ayurvedic tradition of medicine teaches that cancer cells can be converted back to healthy cells through an energy force in the body.”
“Cleaning up”
8.5" x 12"
Dale Phelps, is a retired Iowa orthopedic surgeon and prostate cancer survivor.
“The Macrophages are in charge of cleaning up the dead cancer cells as seen here.”
“Buddha, My Inner Advisor # 3”
24" x 18"
Dale Phelps, is a retired Iowa orthopedic surgeon and prostate cancer survivor.
“Reduction woodcut print, limited edition of 22, signed and numbered.”
“Chemo Nurse-Angel”
12" x 8.5"
Dale Phelps, is a retired Iowa orthopedic surgeon and prostate cancer survivor.
“Killing cancer cells with chemotherapy
“Confucius, My Inner Advisor # 2”
25" x 18"
Dale Phelps, is a retired Iowa orthopedic surgeon and prostate cancer survivor.
“This is a backup Inner advisor. He is the second in a series which I am developing.”
“Dr. Einstein, My Inner Advisor”
25" x 18"
Dale Phelps, is a retired Iowa orthopedic surgeon and prostate cancer survivor.
“My inner advisor in meditation. I felt that if I were going to have an 'inner advisor' I might as well have a smart one.”
“Killing fields”
8.5" x 12"
Dale Phelps, is a retired Iowa orthopedic surgeon and prostate cancer survivor.
“This image depicts white cells attacking and killing cancer cells”
“Rad the Magic Dragon”
8.5" x 12"
Dale Phelps, is a retired Iowa orthopedic surgeon and prostate cancer survivor.
“Rad represents the X-ray therapy as it attacks and kills the cancer cells. I thought of this image while undergoing therapy to add some mind/body therapy to the irradiation treatment”
“Rallying the forces”
9" x 6.5"
Dale Phelps, is a retired Iowa orthopedic surgeon and prostate cancer survivor.
“Activating the immune system”
“The Exterminator”
12" x 8.5"
Dale Phelps, is a retired Iowa orthopedic surgeon and prostate cancer survivor.
“Visualizing white cell attacking cancer cells”
“Thymus U, Lymphocyte Academy”
8.5" x 12"
Dale Phelps, is a retired Iowa orthopedic surgeon and prostate cancer survivor.
“Lymphocytes, after their birth, go to the thymus gland and get”educated" to go after specific enemies - cancer cells, viruses, etc.”
Tags: Control, Dale Phelps, Guided Imagery, Images, Kansas City, Meditation, Modalities, Prostate Cancer, Traditional Medical Treatments, Treatment Of Cancer, Visualization, Woodblock Prints, Woodcuts
Hello: In January 2009 I wrote a blog piece about a wonderful correspondence between a schoolteacher named Rebecca Hammann and President-Elect Obama. Rebecca, the mother of two-year old Lucy, had been delivered a terminal diagnosis and wrote on behalf of her daughter. I loved what Obama wrote back.
Early Monday morning, December 7, Rebecca took her last breath. Her sister wrote and asked me to republish the column. I did.
But the more specific reason I write is to tell Dr. Phelps how wonderful and powerful I find his work to be. I am now in my 20th year of living with HIV, and I am an artist (as well as attorney/advocate), and have found that there is something powerfully redemptive about art and illness. Or, put another way,the special sweetness of art to those who have lost the wonderful luxury of taking their good, stable health for granted.
So, Dr. Phelps, or Dale, if I may, I must confess that I have taken the liberty of using a couple of your wonderful images along with the post. (With attribution, of course.) I felt that you wouldn’t mind.
It’s up at http://www.growingintothemystery.com. Take a look. May we all be blessed.
In a spirit of gratitude from the heart,
Paul Hampton Crockett
Miami, FL