This Is Cancer

Cancer is indiscriminate. It cares little for class, creed or color. Its patients are literally everywhere. When Laura Holmes Haddad was diagnosed, she discovered shelf upon shelf of overly-earnest, somber, gray survival books, and knew there had to be a better way. This Is Cancer is the thoughtful, informative fabulous-looking result for those who prefer their pathos with equal parts humor and reality and a touch of flair. A "what to expect when you're expecting" book for the diagnosis you don't want but are stuck with, This Is Cancer is the book that patients keep in their "heading to the hospital bag," because it's the only one that tells them what's going on and keeps them company. Including such useful snippets as: There is no limit to what you will put yourself through when told it might save your life. Stay away from the Internet. And don't let anyone tell you "what they looked up" about your diagnosis. You'll be surrounded by people but you'll feel lonely, and alone, sometimes. Lexapro is Tylenol for the soul. If you don't like your doctor(s), find new ones. You will feel somewhat at the mercy of them, like they hold the key to your mortality, but in fact more than one doctor can potentially save you and some are nice and some are mean. Whether you or your loved ones want a primer full of useful information in an easy to reference format or a friendly and comforting read, the honest, grave, and mordantly funny stories and tips from young survivors will bring you the real intel and advice that you need most during this tremendously difficult time.

Cancer doesn't just affect those who have it. It affects their parents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, and friends. This book offers a basic understanding of what cancer really is and aims to make it easier to talk about for kids and grownups who may have someone in their life with cancer.

Navigating the tumultuous waters of cancer treatment and decision making is difficult for all patients. It is also difficult for doctors and other medical personnel. This books deals with a variety of emotion-related and ethics issues that form much of the basis of the world of cancer related medicine: the responsibilities of the physician relative to truth, full disclosure, patient autonomy, death and dying, physician assisted suicide, and suicide in general among cancer patients. These and many other matters are discussed using real stories from the author’s extensive personal career in working with cancer patients and their families. This is not a book on treating cancer, but instead is a work that seeks to stimulate a dialog about these issues as well as the spiritual aspects of hope and other factors relating to the plight of cancer patients and their families. Written for health care professionals and cancer victims and their families alike, the core of the book centers around questions of medical ethics, doctor-patient relationships, decision making during cancer treatment (from medical and patient points of view). Given the emotional commitment and energy level required to work with cancer patients in a moral and ethical manner, medical students and residents will ask themselves: do I really want to be a cancer physician? Can I handle the ups and downs of treating people who may (or may not) be destined to fight and lose the battle against this strong nemesis? How will I answer the tough questions regarding medical approaches to cancer? How will I respond to patients who indicate a desire to commit suicide or request my help in doing so? What can I tell families whose loved one is choosing treatments that will not help and will deteriorate his quality of life? Basing his responses on the Oath of Hippocrates, the author illustrates how adaptable this oath actually is when considering the secular society in which we function. The Cancer Experience instructs doctors, medical students, and health care workers involved in cancer care on the proper role of medicine, the role of the doctor, and the opportunities for connecting with patients as they help them make decisions regarding treatment and end of life issues. It helps patients understand the issues facing doctors as they assist them, care for them, and try to maintain both close personal relationships but enough emotional and professional distance in order to protect themselves from the stress and strain when medicine fails and patients must face the hardest choices. Here the author promotes a return to traditional medical values that promote closer doctor-patient relationships in an effort to promote trust, civility, and partnership.

Written in non-technical language, this book helps the reader understand the basic nature and causes of cancer, as well as the principles underlying current strategies for cancer prevention and treatment. By presenting an overview and perspective of both the basic and practical aspects of cancer, including the background needed to understand continuing advances in the field. The book is fascinating reading and an ideal book for everyone interested in the subject.

Ben has cancer, but he also has a loving family and friends, a community fighting for him—and hope. When Ben finds out he has cancer, he learns a lot right away. He learns that cancer is something you fight, and that cancer isn't anyone's fault—especially not his. He discovers that many things change with cancer, but some of the most important things stay the same, and everyone around him wants to help him fight.

Few things affect a family’s everyday life like the presence of an illness like cancer. Whether it’s a grandparent, another family member, a teacher or neighbor or friend, children especially experience confusion, fear and misunderstanding. This book will help kids cope with the presence of cancer in their lives. Book includes 14 wonderful, full-color, full-page illustrations, and some 40 helpful pointers written expressly for children 4-12. A rare and excellent resource!

This book is for you. If you are fighting cancer, this is for you. If your brother, sister, mom, dad, son, daughter, relative, or friend is fighting cancer, this is for you. If you've lost someone to cancer like I have, this is for you. If cancer affects your life in any way, this is for you. The stress of cancer can feel crushing. But perhaps this book can help you get away from it all, if only for a little while, coloring your stress away and infusing your mind and body with some much-needed positivity. Every little bit helps. With 35 gorgeous and inspiring, single-sided, frameable designs inside ranging from simple to intricate, most include uplifting messages...from the socially acceptable "You've got the heart of a fighter" to the cheekily profane "You are stronger than this shit." So find a comfortable place to artistically unwind, raise your spirits, and boost your inner resolve to fight harder and keep going. For yourself and for those you love. You can. You've got this. I believe in you. *A portion of the proceeds from this book will be donated to support research dedicated to finding a cure for cancer. Because fuck cancer.

"Providing comprehensive, current, and reliable information on breast cancer, this book, written by an experienced oncologist, a surgeon, and a breast cancer survivor, informs and inspires readers, wherever they are in the breast cancer experience. Patient stories, essays from medical specialists, and illustrations add clarity and insight"--