Karen Van de Water was a forty-seven-year-old healthy, nonsmoker with no family history of cancer when she learned she had lung cancer. A malignant tumor the size of a small hand grenade was lodged in her left lung. Suddenly, her life changed forever. She was pummeled physically, emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually. In The Cancer Card, Van de Water shares the story of her personal journey-from lung cancer diagnosis through surgery, chemotherapy, hair loss, and recovery. Inspiring, candid, and motivating, she offers helpful, clear, and concise tips, advice, and information for every step of the process for both the patient and the support team. Part memoir and part handbook, The Cancer Card includes a comprehensive listing of resources and terminology that equips the patient with crucial information and support service options. This easy-to-read book shares essential information for everyone faced with any form of cancer and all who love them.

In 2011, the Kahler's world was turned upside down when Joe Kahler, the father of the household, was suddenly diagnosed with a rare form of appendix cancer. Joe, his wife Sherrie, and his three girls Candace, Amanda, and Shelli had to quickly learn how to manage with the hand they were given. They used positive thinking, humor, and playing the "cancer card" to effectively survive the struggle of watching a loved one (and being that loved one) face the deadly disease. In "Pulling the Cancer Card: Playing the Hand You're Given", the Kahler's share their positive story and offer their perspectives and quick tips to successfully help others affected by a cancer diagnosis.

Patients at every stage will find Living with Cancer a comprehensive, thoughtful, and accessible guide for navigating the illness and its treatment.

A cancer diagnosis has more than physical effects; it can cause a torrent of unexpected, unfamiliar emotions felt by both the patient and those who care for them. The Cancer Companion is a compassionate, down-to-earth guide for those navigating these difficult and complex emotions. It takes psychological interventions shown to be appropriate and helpful in the management of cancer-related distress and provides an effective framework for patients and their loved ones to be able to apply these interventions in their own lives. The book is written in short, concise chapters, organised in four sections: - diagnosis and treatment - ending treatment - managing advanced disease - strategies to manage the specific psychological components which may occur (including anxiety, depression, sleep disturbance and management of relationships). With over a decade of experience working with cancer patients and their families, author Toni Lindsay understands that accessible, constructive emotional guidance is vital. This simple structure, combined with the book’s comprehensive approach, aims to help people find a companionate commentary on their situation, and to engage with the outlined strategies. The Cancer Companion is a comforting, constructive, and jargon-free guide which will have a lasting and meaningful impact on the mental wellbeing of anyone whose life has been affected by cancer.

A critical resource for anyone with a cancer diagnosis. Written by a radiation oncologist and cancer researcher, Taking Charge of Cancer offers an insider’s guide to understanding and receiving the best treatment options, choosing the right medical team, and approaching this difficult time with knowledge and hope. Receiving a cancer diagnosis can be terrifying, and the first thing you probably want to know is: How am I going to survive this? Cancer care requires decisions from numerous professionals, delivering treatments that are potentially life-saving, but also potentially dangerous and life-threatening. The chances of cure and survival for any given patient depend on the expertise of the cancer team, and whether procedures are in place to ensure that cancer care is delivered properly. So, how can you make sure you choose the right treatment team and ensure the best chances of survival and long-term health after being diagnosed with cancer? Taking Charge of Cancer is a different type of book for cancer patients—one that goes beyond the cancer information that is currently available, allowing you to truly take control of your cancer treatment. You’ll learn how to obtain and understand medical records, and why these records are critical to your care. You’ll also find the tools you’ll need to determine if the recommendations made by doctors are in keeping with accepted treatment guidelines. You’ll discover how doctors use evidence to decide which treatments are best, as well as how doctors can become biased in their recommendations. And, most importantly, you’ll be able to evaluate whether surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy make the most sense in your specific case—and whether or not these serious treatments are being delivered effectively and safely according to the highest standards. Now that you’ve received a cancer diagnosis, it’s time to set a plan in motion for your recovery. This book will help you do just that—every step of the way.

Coping with cancer is hard. ​It is an emotional ordeal as well as a physical one, with known and somewhat predictable psychological responses. And yet, patients often feel isolated and alone when dealing with the stress, anxiety, depression, and existential crises so typical with a cancer diagnosis. The Big Ordeal, written in collaboration with a psychologist and two oncologists, tackles the emotional side of the experience head-on, to help newly diagnosed patients and their loved ones anticipate, understand, and deal with the psychological turmoil ahead. Based on interviews with scores of patients and experts across a variety of fields, combining patient stories with medical insights and advice from those who have been there, and structured around the typical phases of the process, this book is an accessible resource for anyone who receive a cancer diagnosis.

A guide for men whose wives contract breast cancer offers emotional support and advice every husband needs, including guidance from breast cancer doctors and the shared experiences of those who have gone through the same ordeal. Original. 30,000 first printing.