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Jo Finlay has been recuperating from physically taxing radiation therapy and a bout of pneumonia at Sydney's Greenwich Hospital.
She was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer but remains optimistic despite a poor medical prognosis.
"It's not something where there are good outcomes," Ms Finlay said.
"In fact, most women with advanced breast cancer are expected to die but you never give up hope, put it that way."
As part of her medical treatment, Ms Finlay has been prescribed art therapy by her doctor to help improve mood and mobility.
"I've only done it a couple of times and I've just loved it," Ms Finlay said.
"Just to sit here and concentrate on art is quite a luxury.
"I think it also reminds you of something we all forget and that is — just concentrate on the moment and don't worry about what the outcome is."
Arts program expanded
The program is based on a UK model where health professionals write prescriptions for patients to participate in the arts.
Originally targeted at the aged-care sector, the Arts on Prescription program is now being trialled with cancer patients at Greenwich Hospital.
Dr Andrew Cole, the physician in charge of the cancer rehabilitation clinic, says it plays an important part in treating patients.
"Having Arts on Prescription is having another discipline in my team," he said.
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The artist who runs the program says many patients gain a lot through art therapy. (ABC News)
"In any rehabilitation team we have physios, we have occupational therapists, social workers and so on and the services of each of the members of the team is quite precisely prescribed and delineated.
"The artist — in this case we have Janette — is a full member of our team."
Dr Cole says that while the sample size is small, the program has helped to improve general physical functioning for patients recovering from cancer treatment.
"The tangible things that we actually measure is how the person is physically and functionally improved in their therapy program with us," he said.
"We've found that people who added it as an important part of what they're doing actually improve their general physical functioning in other ways.
"Our hope is to roll out the program to other cancer rehab centres across Australia as well."
'A turnaround for patients'
The artworks previous patients at the rehabilitation centre have created are varied — from drawings, prints, photographs to paintings.
Program convenor and artist Janette Fodera says she has seen previous patients at the clinic gain a lot from art therapy.
"It's a real turnaround for a lot of patients, they find that it's actually been something they have enjoyed," she said.
"Maybe not all will go away and paint but I have had patients who have felt that this sparked something new for them and I've sent them home with materials to continue their journey."
One particular patient's story which has stuck in Fodera's memory since the program's inception at the hospital is a man named Ian who arrived at the clinic in a wheelchair with barely the use of one hand.
"He said to me, 'My eyesight is blurry, I have no feeling in my hands and toes, I'm confined to a wheelchair, I have tubes coming out of my neck and to top it off, I'm an accountant, OK, fine, I'll give this a go'," Ms Fodera said.
"His life was a bit of a storm and this was peaceful for him."
Watch the story tonight on Lateline at 9.30pm (AEDT) on ABC News or 10.20pm on ABC TV.
Topics: health, visual-art, cancer, sydney-2000