A cancer diagnosis is terrifying but for many patients being able to express their feelings on paper can be a big help toward easing their burden. NY1's Roma Torre filed the following report.

Kathleen Ebbets 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.

"The program helped me gain a voice," says Ebbets.

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

And so in 2008 Visible Ink was born, mentoring cancer patients age seven 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," says Ebbets.

In its seven years, Visible Ink with the help of volunteer writers has given voice to more than a thousand 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 theatrically type setting is 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. And he said for most of these Broadway actors who return each year, this is their favorite gig.

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

"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," says Ebbets. "So many people who are just starting treatment and can look at me and go, 'You did it,' and I go, 'You can too.'"