A program at Memorial Sloan Kettering allows many cancer patients to express their feelings about their battle on paper. NY1's Roma Torre filed the following report.

Kathleen Emmets is a colon cancer survivor who was told she had 18 months to live. But that was before she went to Memorial Sloan Kettering. which not only healed her body, it gave her peace of mind thanks to a writing program called Visible Ink.  

Judith Kelman is the founder and director. 

"I've known a lot of people who've suffered with cancer and having their personal narrative shattered," Kelman says.

So in 2008, Visible Ink was born, mentoring cancer patients age 7 to 87 with help to tell their personal stories, many of which are published in the program's annual anthology.

"It gave me something to leave for my son, because there's that worry, 'What if I don't make it and what will they remember of me?' And here were my thoughts and my words and my love for them, that they could hold with them forever," Emmets says.

In its seven years, Visible Ink, with the help of volunteer writers, has given voice to more than 1,000 patients, generating some 40,000 pages of personal expression. And once again, they're gearing up for the annual performance, in which professional actors lend their voices to some of the best works.

Kathleen's story, called "Dressing For Chemo," was performed two years ago.

"Reading the works that these people write and formulating in my head how to put it together in a theatrical-type setting, it's an incredible thing," says director Greg Kachejian.

Kachejian is back to direct for the seventh time. It's a labor of love for him, as both his parents were cancer patients here. He says for most of these Broadway actors who return each year, this is their favorite gig. 

"Actually working and talking with patients after is a powerful thing for them," he says.

"That's probably been the biggest gift from this writing program, is the connection that I've gotten, not only with myself, but with so many cancer survivors, you know, so many people who are just starting treatment and can look at me and go, 'You did it,' and I go, 'And you can too,'" Emmets says.