Product Description

Customer Reviews (3)

AN ABSOLUTE MUST READ
This is such a wonderfully inspirational book and some of the best writing I've ever read. Women sharing their trials, tribulations, heartbreak, and triumph is merely a small part of it. I read the book in one sitting and then for weeks, have been going back and rereading. Thanks to all these wonderfully brave survivors of this insideous disease and thanks for teaching me about life. I plan to buy several copy with an end to passing it to those who need a boost. This book is like a rocket ship. Gun Totin' Chaplain

Personal Stories of Breast Cancer
Breast cancer

Excellent vignets about different phases of breast cancer process including explanation of the stages of the cancer, diagnosis, doctor responsiveness, surgery, medication options. illness progression or remission, recovery or death. Readers interested in person experiences will respond to this book with compassion and understanding.

Recommendation
A book that touches on all stages of breast cancer -- from receiving the news to coping to surviving. Gaining perspective, comfort, or solace from those who experienced it first-hand educates all. ... Read more

Product Description
It isn't just a woman's disease: few men stop to consider it, but one in a thousand males contracts breast cancer.

Saving Jack is a moving first-person account of a man's experience with breast cancer. In a tale of challenge and adversity, Jack Willis relates his personal experience, from first feeling a pea-sized nodule in his breast to being diagnosed, from mastectomy and chemotherapy treatments to positive prognosis. And in telling candidly of his struggles, he conveys his renewed appreciation of life.

While there is no shortage of books devoted to helping women with breast cancer, this is the first to address the apprehensions faced by men who contract the disease. As he describes the physical and emotional roller coaster on which he suddenly found himself, Willis shares with readers--especially other new cancer victims--some of the things he and his family didn't know about cancer when he was diagnosed.

In a compelling story of faith, fear, and sometimes just getting through one long day of chemo, Willis shows that cancer is a family disease, affecting spouses and children as well as victims. For anyone whose family has been devastated by this frightening diagnosis, Saving Jack offers a ray of hope--and for men who face this unexpected disease, it offers a much needed source of strength. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Saving Jack: A Man's Struggle With Breast Cancer
My husband was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in March of this year. Saving Jack was the only book I could find on men having this disease. The book is very informative. It was comforting to read what would happen to my husband. My husband experienced almost everything Jack did. Thank you for having this book available for cancer patients.

Super book!
I absolutely loved this book. I was in the library, and I was just randomly looking at a book to read, and this popped out. When I was in high school, our principal wanted to educate EVERYBODY about breast cancer. All the girls were uncomfortable with the fact that guys were in the room, but many of us had no idea it could happen to guys also. The male students needed to learn that it could happen to them too. In fact, we had a male student that had breast cancer himself which is very rare. Anyhow... every male should read this book in my opinion.

An unusual first-person account of a man's experience of a disease normally associated with women
SAVING JACK: A MAN'S STRUGGLE WITH BREAST CANCER provides an unusual first-person account of a man's experience of a disease normally associated with women. From being diagnosed to having a mastectomy and chemo, this provides the first book to address the issues of men who suffer from the disease. Health care and public libraries need it.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

A True Comfort
Saving Jack is THE book to read if you or a loved one has cancer.Although it covers the author's personal experience with one type of cancer, breast cancer in a male of all things, the lessons learned are invaluable. It is a personal, first person account by a brilliant, funny and often poignant man who takes you on the roller coaster of the cancer patient's inner world.This is an excellent read for those who treat cancer patients and their families. This book is engaging from beginning to end, and I too, read it straight through!It is the best book of this area for demystifying some very scary issues on a personal level.If life hands you lemons, this is the gourmet recipe for lemonade. This book had an unexpected effect on this reviewer on the most visceral level.It was comforting.Never saw that coming.

A book for anyone who loves someone who has or has had cancer
This is a heartfelt book.The author takes the reader along on his journey in dealing with a disease that many people do not think men can get.From finding the tumor to a missed diagnosis through a mastectomy and chemo therpay.Jack Willis is able to draw you in with his funny and warm writing to feeling that you actually know him and his family.He does a great job of including his family and thier struggle in dealing with a loved one going through cancer.It is a must read for anyone who has had cancer and anyone who has loved someone with cancer. ... Read more

Product Description
Essential Exercises for Breast Cancer Survivors helps breast cancer patients at every step of their journey. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Essential Exercises is a great exercise book!
This excellent book will help anyone regain strength after breast surgery. The exercises are divided by level of difficulty. They are clearly explained with text and many, easy-to-follow pictures. The authors include tips to cover all the different kinds of breast cancer surgery. This book would be a very good guide for the beginner as well as someone who was exercising regularly before surgery. Patricia J. Anderson, RN, MN, Author, Breast Cancer: A Patient Guide

Essential Exercises is a great exercise book!
This excellent book will help anyone regain strength after breast surgery. The exercises are divided by level of difficulty. They are clearly explained with text and many, easy-to-follow pictures. The authors include tips to cover all the different kinds of breast cancer surgery. This book would be a very good guide for the beginner as well as someone who was exercising regularly before surgery. Patricia J. Anderson, RN, MN, Author, Breast Cancer: A Patient Guide

Essential is right!
Being a personal trainer, I contacted one of the authors (Andrea Leonard) who was offering a training course based on her book. I jumped at the chance. The book is filled with great exercises, information and resources. The book is not only essential for exercising, but essential to personal trainers who want to work with breast cancer clients. This book is a groundbreaking standard in the field.

A definite must for ANY health professional
I have the 2000 edition of this book and ABSOLUTELY love it!I am a post-rehab conditioning specialist as well as a personal trainer and recommend this book to anyone that will have to design an exercise program for breast cancer survivors.It provides excellent information about different surgical procedures and exercise indications and contraindications!It illustrates and explains "level appropriate" exercises for stretching, ROM, and resistance training!GREAT REFERENCE BOOK! ... Read more

Product Description
"How can I know if I'm really cured?"
"Will anyone ever be attracted to me again?"
"Will I ever get to enjoy sex again?"
"It is safe for me to get pregnant?"
"How do I live well beyond menopause without estrogen replacement therapy?"
"What do I tell my boss?"
"My daughter wants to know if she's going to get breast cancer too.What should I tell her?"

If you are one of the 2.6 million women in the U.S. living beyond breast cancer, these may be some of the questions troubling you.You've been through diagnosis and treatment; now you're ready to move from "I have breast cancer" back to "I am leading a normal life."Living Beyond Breast Cancer will help you understand and manage the tough issues you face as you go on beyond treatment, and well into the future.

You'll learn how to become as healthy as possible for as long as possible by eating right, managing your weight, and finding an exercise programthat works with your lifestyle.You'll find out what to do if you've got to stop taking hormones or want to start.You may also need advice on achieving intimacy and having a baby.You'll also find invaluable guidance on growing older and navigating troubling symptoms of menopause, particularly when they're brought on by chemotherapy or tamoxifen or by stopping hormone replacement therapy.A normal life includes dealing with job and health care issues and wills. So you'll find in-depth information on these subjects too.

You're a survivor, and you've got a future.This empathetic book, filled with comprehensive medical information, practical advice, and the voices of survivors who have lived through everything you're going through, will help you celebrate your second chance at living beyond breast cancer.Amazon.com Review
"Breast cancer is never completely over," says author MarisaC. Weiss, M.D., a radiation oncologist. Even when x-rays are negativeand doctors proclaim remission, breast-cancer survivors often sufferfrom continued health problems along with elevated levels of anxiety,and the specter of recurrence is just a small part of the picture.

Living Beyond Breast Cancer: A Survivor's Guide for When TreatmentEnds and the Rest of Your Life Begins has won endorsements fromboth Bernie Siegel and former surgeon general C. Everett Koop. Itdeftly and with compassion maps out a guide for going back to a"normal" life: for handling fears of recurrence and worries thatfamily members will develop breast cancer and for managing physicalposttreatment problems, including the lingering side effects ofradiation, fertility difficulties, changes in sex drive, and feelingsof unattractiveness.

Living Beyond Breast Cancer iscomprehensive--at more than 500 pages, it has the room to thoroughlycover pain control and medication, genetic testing, weight management,hormone and tamoxifen therapy, alternative treatments such astraditional Chinese medicine, breast reconstruction, and the varioustests for recurrence, from PET and CAT scans to MRIs and blood testingfor cancer markers. It's also a superb reference for emotionalissues, from depression and generalized anxiety to insecurities aboutreentering the job market and revealing the cancer experience tocoworkers. Weiss includes many quotes from breast-cancer survivors, soreaders know they're not alone. The extensive resources and excellentindex add to this book's immense helpfulness. --Erica Jorgensen ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Book Review
The book was very informative and helpful with the information that I was looking for.

Practical, more information than most doctors provide
This book has detailed information that can be overwhelming for those that have diagnoses that are not very early breast cancer. However, if you want to know everything and have a lot of information, you will appreciate this book for all of its content.There is a lot of useful information.If you don't want end of life issues at this time, don't go there with this book, because it covers a lot of territory. For me, parts of this book were scary.

Great book!
This is a great book if you've just finished treatment for breast cancer. After spending a whole year in and out of hospital with operations, chemo and radiotherapy I needed some advice on how to get back to living a normal life but also advice on what I could do to combat a return of the cancer.

Needs to be updated
There's a lot of good information in this book...for 1998.Breast cancer treatment and survival has come a long way since then; this book should reflect that.Also, was surprised at how much stuff they covered that *wasn't* post-treatment.A lot of what this book covered was in other books for the newly diagnosed and those going through treatment -- I wanted more about actual life after treatment, not more recaps of breast reconstruction.

Disappointing.

The Very Best for Metastatic Information!
I've been reading and researching breast cancer on and off for 4 years.A year ago my breast cancer metasticized, and it's hard to find honest information (or any information) about metastatic disease.The title to this book is misleading, because it doesn't mention the fantastic, updated metastatic information.It is by far the most comprehensive, readable treatment of this I've found.I'm ordering several copies to give away. ... Read more

Product Description
This work provides a mental and emotional account of a doctor's survival from breast cancer which addresses not only how to deal with aspects of this disease, but also what is required for breast healing. It explores the negatives and positives of types of treatment, and looks into the causes, including some preventable ones, of breast cancer; examines the cultural and political dysfunctions that contribute to the growing incidences of breast cancer, and offers a program for preventing or healing it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A terrific book for the just diagnosed or anyone with b.c.
This book literally got me through the three weeks between my diagnosisand surgery.Dr. Joseph is a caring, intelligent woman whose personalexperience and ability to articulate it are extraordinary.She coversstandard and alternative therapies in a non-threatening and easy tounderstand way.The story of her spritual journey was remarkable.

Every woman should read this book!
This books is more than about breast cancer.It deals with working with doctors, emotional wellbeing and nutrition.It is how every woman should treat herself all the time, not just when faced with a life threateing disease.Very informative and easy to understand ... Read more

Product Description
Breast cancer affects everyone it touches, whether firsthand or through the life of a loved one. Counselor and teacher Yvonne Ortega discovered this when she was diagnosed with breast cancer and began her journey. In Finding Hope for Your Journey through Breast Cancer, she shares with readers her personal triumphs and setbacks with humor and refreshing candor, always reminding us of God's desire to meet us exactly where we are. In this repackaged book, sixty devotions are divided into sections--diagnosis, surgery, treatment, and recovery--each incorporating Scripture into daily life. It also includes a new chapter on living with the possibility that cancer may return. Ortega's attention to even the most basic hopes and fears that a cancer patient faces each day offers encouragement that can come only from one who has been there herself. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Real Hope for Cancer Survivors

Having faced the diagnosis of breast cancer herself, Yvonne Ortega's Finding Hope for Your Journey through Breast Cancer resonates with a realness that only a cancer survivor can communicate. Sometimes in the midst of our challenges we need to lean on the hope and experiences of others and this powerful book provides the emotional and spiritual support cancer survivors yearn for. Through a sixty day journey, Yvonne shares her struggles, depression, and pain but she also shares the hope and inspiration she gained in the midst of cancer. This wonderfully written book is a perfect gift and resource not only for breast cancer survivors and support groups but for those who are sharing this journey with them. As a breast cancer survivor myself, I thank Yvonne for sharing her heart, her hope, and her life with us.We are better for it.
Georgia Shaffer, PA Licensed Psychologist and Author of Taking Out Your Emotional Trash

A Wonderful Resource!
"I hope it works out for you!"
"I hope things go as expected."
"I hope things improve soon."
"I hope I find my way out of this mess some day."

We all hope for something, don't we? In fact, we pursue hope and cling to it with every breath, for after all, without it, why go on? People commit suicide because they ran out of hope. But the Bible talks about "the hope that doesn't disappoint," and that's the hope author and cancer survivor Yvonne Ortega refers to in her excellent book, "Finding Hope for Your Journey through Breast Cancer."

Now I know not everyone has breast cancer or even knows someone who does. If you do, then this book is exactly what you need. But if not, you (or someone you love) need a book to strengthen your grip on hope. This practical book of 60 inspirational readings by author and speaker Yvonne Ortega is just the ticket!

Hold on to Hope!
Cancer isn't the last word. Hope is.

This is what Yvonne Ortega believes, and she should know. Finding Hope for Your Journey through Breast Cancer is the 2nd edition of her excellent book of inspirational readings for those caught up in the cancer journey.

In Finding Hope for Your Journey through Breast Cancer, Yvonne Ortega reminds us that no matter how difficult life may become, God is always there. When cancer strikes, and you or those near to you face the roller coaster of treatment and side-effects, you will find encouragement and inspiration through the words of this book.

Each short chapter contains Scripture and a devotional message based on personal experience. Yvonne speaks from the heart, sharing her real feelings and reactions in a way that will cause you to say, "She understands."

As a cancer survivor myself, I wish this book had been around when I needed it. Well done Yvonne! Thank you for allowing me to share a little of the journey with you.

A wonderful resource for women with cancer
Yvonne Ortega has provided a wonderful resource for women dealing with the difficult and frightening journey of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. Drawing from her own personal experience with breast cancer, the author provides sixty short inspirational readings. Each reading centers around an experience within her journey She begins with the initial diagnosis and then leads us through surgery, cancer returning, treatment and healing.
Each reading begins with a scripture and ends with a short prayer. The author writes with openness and honesty about her fears, disappointments and struggles along the way. She also opens up a full picture of how a cancer diagnosis can change your day to day routine of living. The readings show honest frustration with losses of independence due to physical limitations after surgery and during treatment but at the same time are balanced with growing thankfulness for the love and care that God surrounded her with from friends, family, co-workers and health care workers.
Yvonne Ortega has given cancer patients a great gift in the writing of this little book. I would highly recommend it as a gift to be given to anyone who is currently dealing with breast cancer, particularly those who are newly diagnosed.

Transparent Truth
Breast cancer. It's the diagnosis nobody wants to hear.It's the diagnosis an estimated 1.3 million women worldwide receive each year. And it's the diagnosis doctors gave Yvonne Ortega back in 2001.

A popular speaker and certified counselor, Yvonne practiced the writer's version of "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade." When life gave her cancer, she wrote a book. In fact, many of the sixty devotionals contained within the pages of Finding Hope for Your Journey through Breast Cancer were written during her treatment and recovery period.

The book's format makes it a perfect match for battle-weary soldiers facing their own cancer wars. Each devotional contains a "Hope Builder" (a single Scripture verse or brief passage), key verse (quoted in full for easy reference), and one- to two-page devotional that ends with a brief prayer. Since the book moves chronologically through the author's personal cancer journey, readers will identify with many of the emotions, experiences, and challenges she faces along the way.

Yvonne's performed a great service in the brief yet meaningful format of each piece. Readers can read a little--and gain a lot. The book's primary strength, however, lies in the transparency the author brings to her subject. Writers--especially those who write from the perspective of faith--can fall prey to the temptation to make ourselves appear godly, righteous, and holier-than-thou. Ms. Ortega's honesty about her moments of despair and days of doubt both endear her to her readers and add credence to the biblical, practical wisdom she shares.

Because of Jesus, there is hope for your journey through breast cancer. Because of Yvonne Ortega, there is an attractive, thoughtful, and personal way to find it.

... Read more

Product Description
Newly updated and revised, this is the only book on breast cancer that deals honestly with the realities of living with metastatic disease, yet offers hope and comfort. It features the stories of 40 women andmen as they struggle to come to terms with metastatic breast cancer.All aspects of facing advanced breast cancer are covered, including:coping with the shock of recurrence, seeking information and makingtreatment decisions, communicating effectively with medical personnel,finding support, and handling disease progression and end-of-life issues. Most people assume the recurrence of breast cancer means an immediatedeath sentence. The eloquent voices in Advanced Breast Cancer speak of a different reality: that women with metastatic breast cancergenerally go on to live with their disease, often for many years, and thatthrough facing this reality, and gathering information and support, thetime that they have can be full and meaningful.This comprehensive new guide provides updated resources and treatmentdevelopments, including novel formulation of conventional drugs, as wellas the latest therapies being developed in cancer research labs today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

sucha great help
This was a book for a friend of mine. She has stage 3.5 of breast cancer. She said the book gave her more information than most other sources. She learned things vital to her illness. I am so sad a cure has not been found for this.

I'm so grateful this book exists!
Advanced Breast Cancer was the first book I read after getting the news that my breast cancer had spread to the bone.I had read Musa Mayer's story of her personal experience with primary breast cancer, Examining Myself, only a year before when I faced Stage II cancer, and found it completely absorbing.I was unsure, however, how she would deal with the subject of metastatic disease, which she does not herself have.

I am so grateful for her treatment of the subject.While Advanced Breast Cancer is not an easy book to read, and is perhaps not suited to those who are still in shock and very frightened, it provides the kind of clear information that ultimately relieves fears of the future, rather than exacerbating them.Information from a "factual", medical point of view is good and necessary, but I always find myself asking, "But what will really happen? Will I be allowed to suffer?", or be abandoned, or treated as "less than".As the one man profiled in the book notes, "One thing I have thought about in the past is that there are no lessons on dying. For many, death is not the problem, but rather the process of dying. No one can teach you that, and it's an unknown territory".It is true that we will all face death essentially alone.This book, however, allows us to glimpse the ways others have journeyed toward that "good night", and makes us feel somewhat less alone.

If this book scares you, put it away for a while.But don't discard it.You may come to a time when it tells you exactly what you want to know.

Very depressing
This book is very well written, but very depressing. As a woman with advanced breast cancer, I face each and every day with joy and happiness. Each day is a gift, and I plan to unwrap many more. I fill my mind with positive thoughts about LIVING, about being that statistic who makes it, about willing my cancer to go away. And it is. When I was first diagnosed, I purchased this book because I intend to live, and this book promised a guide to that. I ended up in tears after only a short time of looking through this book, because it is more of a guide to dying.

Down to earth and validating
I bought this book two years ago, right after my diagnosis of breast cancer and after I received my pathology report - which indicated I was apt to end up with recurrence or spread. This book was not at all what I expected.I was expecting a guide to treatment options - dry and factual.What I got instead- showed that others had dealt with this very difficult issue and so could I, if need be.I passed the book on to a friend already in this position.Now, two years later, I am facing metastatic disease myself and have bought my own copy of the book again. Knowing that others have gone before me makes it easier for me to handle myself.Thank you, Musa.

Comprehensive and Frank Source of Information
As the spouse of someone with metestatic breast cancer, I highly recommend this book.It is a very emotional read on a very difficult subject.For months, I searched the Internet, libraries and bookstores for information.Friends sent some of the more popular cancer books.But nowhere could I find a comprehensive source of information on advanced stages of breast cancer.I didn't need a book on initial stages of cancer, miracle cures or a motivational story of one individual's treatment.I wanted a book that realistically addressed advanced stage cancer.This was the book I was looking for, and the book that provided the most help.The medical information provided is presented in a logical and solid manner.The personal stories communicate the emotional and practical implications of the disease.The writing style is articulate, concise and interesting. Musa Mayer has done an amazing job with a horrible subject.

I recommend you read some of the excerpts posted on this site, prior to ordering.They provide a good indication of the subject matter and the manner it is presented.I found this book personally very helpful.It has proven to be a trusted reference, and a tremendous source of both medical and personal information. ... Read more

Product Description
Scared. Shocked. Depressed. These words describe the more than one million women worldwide who are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. But they also apply to the husbands, fathers, sons, brothers, and friends to whom cancer sufferers turn for support. "Stand by Her" is written to help these men be the very best supporters they can be, combining solid practical advice with emotional guidance based both on the author's personal experience and his extensive research. Offering insight into medical, psychological, family, sexual, and financial issues. The book also provides an exhaustive section of print, online, and other resources for patients and caregivers. One day the war against breast cancer will be won. Until then, women need their men to help them fight. This landmark book will help any man overcome the fear and frustration of dealing with the disease, and arm him with the knowledge and resources he needs to Stand by Her. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

A very good resource.....not just for the Breast Cancer Husband...
_Stand by Her_ is more of a how-to relationship guide for Breast Cancer Husbands, Sons, Fathers, and Grandsons than a guide on breast cancer disease and treatment.It effectively informs/guides the reader as to how to communicate with and support the affected woman in his life, no matter what their kinship is.This is a VERY GOOD book, a great complementary volume for _Breast Cancer Husband_.Find the time to read them both if your wife has breast cancer. Read _Stand by Her_ first if you are not the husband or primary caregiver.God bless you all in your time of difficulty.

Looking at breast cancer through a male lens
This is a terrific resource for any husband, father, or supportive caregiver whose loved one is facing breast cancer.John Anderson opens his heart and life to us and offers wonderful practical advice from the knowledge he gained during the time he and his wife Sharon battled breast cancer.As anyone who has been down the road of navigating a life threatening illness knows, it is not easy.John honestly looks at the toll it takes on a marriage and how you can come through together on the other side.As I read this book, it really became a testament to the power of honesty and strength of two people confronting their fears and reaffirming their love at the same time.OK but it isn't just about that - it is also practical information that can help anyone who feels helpless when their spouse is so ill.Things like how to handle that first time you look at the scars of surgery or when is it a good time to tell the kids.Anderson confronts his own guilt - tired of having a sick wife, tired of the stress and tired of being positive and that honesty will help readers who may be facing a similar situation cope. This is a tremendous resource and one that you will read cover to cover and then go back and reread particular sections.

A must for both health collections and personal consultation
STAND BY HER: A BREAST CANCER GUIDE FOR MEN stands nearly alone in the wealth of breast cancer guides directed for women. This focuses on how men can support their families and friends diagnosed with breast cancer, offering chapters based on the author's personal experience and research. From the hardest part of waiting during surgery to helping a loved one's recovery and understanding her feelings, STAND BY HER is an invaluable guide to support. A must for both health collections and personal consultation.

A helpful guide to a husband trying to help a wife with cancer
A friend sent me a copy of this book after he read my review of The Selfish Pig's Guide to Caring here on Amazon. He knew that I have been the primary caregiver for my wife who has had brain cancer for over 30 years, and he wondered if Stand by Her: A Breast Cancer Guide for Men would be helpful to him -- his wife has recently been diagnosed with a stomach cancer.

My answer is maybe, depending on the husband and to a certain extent on the wife -- all of us are different and all of us react to the challenges in very different ways. I don't know much about breast cancer, but my sister went through the entire process described in this book six years ago, and they both thought it range true for them in several ways.

What I do know is that coming to grips with the issues presented to a husband arising from his wife's cancer can be very difficult to deal with. The Well blog on "The New York Times" website recently reportedforon a study of 515 patients who received diagnoses of brain tumors or multiple sclerosis from 2001 through 2006. Women in the study who were told they had a serious illness were seven times as likely to become separated or divorced as men with similar health problems. Over all, about 12 percent of the patients in the study ended up separated or divorced, but when the man became ill, only 3 percent experienced the end of a marriage. Among women, about 21 percent ended up separated or divorced.

Readers reaction ran a wide gamut, with a very large number of women and men finding the results "pathetic" and proof that men are "evil" or that "men can't cope." As a caregiver for the past thirty and more years, very little of the discussion was very helpful to me; after all 80% of the men stayed with their ill wives. Suggestions on how to increase that percentage would have been much more constructive.

A few posts focused on a suggestion by the authors of the studies; they felt men had more trouble coping with the demands of caregiving because they lacked competence and training to do so. In particular, studies by the Well Spouse organization indicate that "spousal caregivers require a different kind of support than other family caregivers, due to the involvement of intimacy in the relationship. [we] know that studies have found that of all family caregivers, spousal caregivers take the longest to self-identify; and of these, men take longer than women." The group agrees with the sponsors of the study that more support for spousal caregivers, especially at the time of diagnosis, might reduce the divorce and separation rate.

There are more sources of support now than there were 30 years ago when my wife's tumor became a part of our lives, but every care giver is well advised to find some sort of approach to (and if possible support in) the new role they choose to accept.

Anderson uses his own experience to help men become supportive care givers while dealing with their own fears and emotions about a loved one with breast cancer. He tries to describe the physical and emotional challenges women face during treatment.He also discusses the strains on marriage and intimacy. Altogether, I believe Anderson has written a very helpful book for any husband facing the challenges standing by a wife with cancer.

At the same time, I hope people will read the one star review here on Amazon written by cindyinthewind . She makes a valid point about remission rates, but makes a very much more important point about how people differ in their approaches to the challenges. She writes:

"Men who are supporting a woman with breast cancer need to remember first that she's still an individual and an adult, and will remain so. She doesn't automatically transform into a helpless child who needs comforting from little pink teddy bears. Show her first that you don't think of her as infantile just because of her disease, and that it's not her breasts you value as much as you value HER, and you won't go wrong."

I've tried to follow cindyinthewind's advice for 30 plus years -- as a frail human being with sometimes mixed results. I agree completely that patients are individuals and have very different needs.

Each husband and each wife need to come to their own personal conclusions on how to deal with the challenges. Anderson's book can be very helpful to a husband trying to be as helpful as he is able to be.

Robert C. Ross2009

Perpetuates the misbelief that 5 years' remission = cure
As a woman who has had breast cancer, I have glanced through this book to see what kind of advice it offers men for helping women through it. One thing that really stuck out to me is that the author is apparently under the misimpression that if a woman goes five years without a recurrence of breast cancer, she is "officially cured" and it's time to celebrate. This is a really dangerous belief to perpetuate, and may devastate women who have recurrences after they thought they were "out of the woods." The sad fact is that there is no such thing as a breast cancer "cure," and that unlike many other cancers for which five years is the "all clear" point, there is never such a point for breast cancer. It can recur at any time, but based on the particular type, it may be more or less likely to recur. This book shouldn't be spreading the myth of "five years out and you're cured"; it's very irresponsible.

Less importantly but still significant, there's also no acknowledgment in this book that women with breast cancer each feel differently about the "pinkapalooza" that is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Men should see how the woman in their lives feels about it before bombarding her with pink-ribbon junk, because some of us just HATE it--the pink products, the tchotchkes, the charity races, the whole thing. In fact, for some of us, just getting through the month of October, faced with reminders of our ordeal at every turn, is painful.

Men who are supporting a woman with breast cancer need to remember first that she's still an individual and an adult, and will remain so. She doesn't automatically transform into a helpless child who needs comforting from little pink teddy bears. Show her first that you don't think of her as infantile just because of her disease, and that it's not her breasts you value as much as you value HER, and you won't go wrong. ... Read more

Product Description
At age 42, Barbara L. Gordon was diagnosed with Stage II breast cancer. Two years later, it appeared that the cancer had metastasized. Together with her oncologist and other experts, Gordon has written the book that she wished she had as she faced late-stage breast cancer and the prospect of dying from the disease. Filled with information and advice, and designed to enable informed decisions and improved quality of life, this comprehensive guide gathers in one place authoritative medical information about recurrence and late-stage breast cancer, and it addresses the practical, emotional, and interpersonal aspects of death and dying.

This indispensable guide will aid those diagnosed with recurrent or late-stage breast cancer, as well as those wanting to reduce the chances of a recurrence, and it will be a valuable resource for healthcare professionals, friends, family members, and others.

Topics covered include

* Types of recurrence, their symptoms, and ways of minimizing the chances of a recurrence
* Diagnostic tests, potential surgeries, and treatments to manage late-stage cancer
* Getting the best care, evaluating complementary therapies, and alleviating pain and depression
* Cessation of treatment and what one may experience as the disease progresses
* End-of-life issues including dealing with financial matters and legal documents, communicating with loved ones and hospice services, and planning memorial services

Breast Cancer Recurrence and Advanced Disease includes a glossary of medical terms, appendices on nutrition and integrative health centers, and links to current websites addressing matters such as clinical trials, patients' rights, and covering medical expenses. ... Read more

Product Description
Consumer text provides clear, easy-to-understand information on breast cancer treatment options, surgical techniques for breast reconstruction, drug therapies, complementary and alternative treatments, and genetic research. Also offers tips and advice on managing the emotions, reactions, and side effects of treatments. Previous edition: c2001. Softcover. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

If you choose only one Breast Cancer Book...
There are many good breast cancer books out there, and a couple of excellent ones. This book is outstanding, because it is able to include all the necessary medical information, while including all the other information that you need to take care of your life. I am more than my breasts, and more than my breast cancer!

This book includes the latest treatment guidelines for breast cancer, goes over the practical issues issues of work, insurance, and money, assembling a support team, coping with side effects, and going through the entire process. The medical information is clear, to the point, and well-written. It is the equal of any other book.

This is the only book which had quotes from survivors throughout the book,and the only book which has a thorough discussion of how to manage your everyday life while you go through treatment. No other book so frankly discusses what you can do to raise money to get through treatment, and what difficulties you may face at work or at home.

This book has only two flaws - it is a large book, and gets hard to haul everywhere (No heavier than Susan Love's book,though, and a much better book!) The second flaw is that there are pages that are recommended for copying. These pages are scattered throughout the book, and would be best assembled in an appendix or a separate workbook. ... Read more

Product Description
As the number of patients diagnosed with and surviving breast cancer increases, health care professionals must focus more on the newly diagnosed and have less time to devote to patients who have completed their treatment. It is becoming essential that "breast cancer survivor doctors and nurses" be trained to fulfill this growing and needed role for patients. Cancer care specialists, primary care practitioners, gynecologists, and internal medicine physicians all need to be aware of long term side effects of cancer and treatment side-effects They need to know how to monitor for recurrence, watch for other types of related cancers, and help instill confidence in their patient, who now is a breast cancer survivor. This handbook covers all dimensions of breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment for the non-specialist and places a special emphasis on the long term survivor. A straightforward guide to quality long-term care of the breast cancer patient, perfect for any health care professional! ... Read more

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"I was always a rock. I never cried in front of her. I never wanted her tosee me upset because that would upset her more." -Jill, 19

"All of a sudden, both of our walls came down and we were able to talk at anice equal level and not fight, not get defensive, and not get angry."-Stephanie, 35

"I'm convinced that I'm going to get breast cancer in my mid-forties, justlike my mother, just like her mother." -Jennifer, 29

For the more than 180,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer each year, thenews of their condition changes not only their own lives, but also the livesof the loved ones who support them, suffer with them, and often grieve forthem. As a daughter, you may face not only the sobering reality of yourmother's diagnosis and treatment, but also the fear and anxiety surroundingthe possibility that you too may face a similar future.My Mother's Breast focuses on the unique psychological needs of women whomust deal with the pain and devastation of their mother's illness whilerepressing their fears for their own health. Where once they remainedsilent while they helped to comfort their mothers, these women now speak outto discuss their anxieties, share their hopes, and teach you about the mythsand realities of breast cancer.

Award-winning writer Laurie Tarkan profiles a wide range of women who havewitnessed the effects of their mothers' breast cancer. She shares in theirown words their fears, anger, guilt, and grief. Plus, My Mother's Breastfeatures important information on preventive measures you can take, methodsto determine risk levels, and approaches to facing anxiety. It also offersstrategies from leading psychologists and psychiatrists for coping andprovides resources for women and men alike.Amazon.com Review
When a woman finds out her mother has breast cancer, her world becomes atornado, whirling with fears of her mother's disfigurement, pain, anddeath, and the panic and certainty that she will be next to develop thedisease. Award-winning journalist Laurie Tarkan (whose mother died of a liver disorder when Tarkanwas 11 years old) interviewed many women whose mothers had breast cancer.She chose 16 daughters' stories forMy Mother's Breast, sprinkling each narrative with hercommentary and that of psychologists.

Many of the mother-daughter stories are love stories, but some arenot.Felicia's mother told her, "One reason I have breast cancer isbecause you kicked my breasts when you were little." Kathie's motherhid from her the fact that she was dying, so Kathie was never able tosay goodbye. Some of the daughters who are their mother's supportsystem can't find support themselves, like Jill: "My mother had breastcancer, my father was a wreck, my brother [was] an alcoholic, and mygrandmother was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. My boyfriend was givingme problems on top of that." Not all the daughters are models ofvirtue and emotional stability, either: 17-year-old Stacy was aself-destructive rebel even through her mother's chemotherapy;13-year-old Julie became bulimic.

Both the mothers and the daughters run the gamut of personalities andemotions. If you have a mother with breast cancer, you'll understand thatyou're not alone with your fears and concerns, and these real-life exampleswill enhance your understanding of your experience. --Joan Price ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

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This book was OK.I bought it after my mother's death to cancer hoping to find some similarities to my situation, but apparently nobody interviewed for this book experienced intense guilt and severe depression.

Helping to cope with Cancer
Wow, I wish this book had been available when my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1975 when I was ten years old.Her struggle lasted until 1988 when I was 23 and she passed away.This book not only helped me come to terms with my mothers passing and my feelings, but helped when my mother-in-law was diagnosed with lung cancer and my father was diagnosed with pancrease and liver cancer within 6 months of each other.I was the primary care for all three of them and took care of them along with hospiac up until their deaths.I now refer this book to anyone dealing with cancer of any kind, sometimes I will even buy it and give it to the person.Every single person I have referred or given this book to has said that they feel much better and are able to deal with life.They in turn refer the book to people they know.

My thanks and appreciation to the author for placing these stories into a book.

gift to my two daughters
My daughters were both happy to read their copy of the book.Each took with them different portions that were helpful.My oldest daughter plans on giving the book to one of her students who is now 15 and going through asimilar experience with her mother. My youngest, said she was greatlyhelped by the book. Thank you so much.Carolyn

I think it is an extremely important book
I read it almost in one sitting. I literally could not put it down. The book was extremely well written and very easy to read. Its content was powerful, honest and informative. It moved with grace from one chapter tothe next and never became bogged down in detail or data. From theperspective of a mother who has had breast cancer, it was painful to see,in black and white, so many of the issues that my daughters have had toface. I think any mother and daughter who have had an experience withprolonged and serious illness of the mother, would greatly benefit fromreading your book. In fact, I was so impressed with its content that I amgoing to buy three extra copies and give one to each of my girls. I thinkit will help them to better understand their experiences, their feelings,and their behaviors during my many illnesses. I hope it will help them withthe confusion, rage and guilt that I know has often assailed them. From theperspective of a breast cancer survivor, who was also a daughter, niece andcousin of women with ovarian cancer, I thought your final chapterscontained incredibly important information. I know they would have helpedme fifteen years ago. I would recommend it, and will do so, to anyone.

Compelling and well researched; a great resource
Laurie Tarkan's book brings attention to a serious but rarely discussed issue--the unique experience of women whose mothers develop breast cancer. These women often have to cope with the loss of one of their mostsignificant relationships at a young age as well as the knowledge that theymay also be at increased risk for breast cancer. Through compellingpersonal stories of daughters of women with breast cancer, Laurie Tarkan'sbook explores the emotional and medical repercussions with intelligence andsensitivity. The book provides expert information to help these womenassess their breast cancer risk and informs them of the most up-to-dateoptions for reducing their risk. Women whose mothers have had breast cancer(and others who've had to cope with a serious loss in their lives) willfind real help in dealing with their often overwhelming feelings. ... Read more

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This practical guide covers both the latest developments in sentinel lymph node biopsy and their refinements of the classic methods of excision and reconstruction. Each procedure is fully illustrated and the accompanying CD includes video clips. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (6)

book for children
This is a book written by children for children. It is for kids in elementary school. I would not recommend this book for pre-k through 2nd grade. It answers many questions and lets children know what to expect when a parent has cancer. This is a well written book.

Wonderful for families affected by cancer
This is an easy to read book from the child's perspective, which makes it easier to relate for kids.

A book a child can understand
My daughter is undergoing chemo.She was told she would lose her hair, so before she lost all of her hair I ordered this book for my grandson.It helped tremendously for him to understand why Mama was bald.I recommend this book highly to anyone who has a child whose parent is going through chemo.

Best picture book about parental cancer
Many children's books about cancer in a parent treat it as movie disease: a convenient way to introduce mortality. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer, I needed a way to let my children know what they could expect as far as my therapy, and let them know what might happen emotionally.

This is by far the best of several children's picture books written about a parent with cancer. Because it is written and illustrated by two sisters, it conveys what kids want to know. It showed the passage of time during treatment, and it showed that people were loving and kind and hopeful in the midst of a rotten time.

This book is excellent, and I would recommend it to any parent who has been diagnosed with cancer as a way to open discussions with elementary-aged and younger children.

Two Thumbs Up!
I go to school at Village Elementry in Coronado.Adrienne and Abigail are the cusins of a kid in my class named Paul. They got to come to our school and read the book to us.I think it was very good.It really is based on a true story!The book was about there mom who had breast cancer.They even wrote a hat song in the story!I give the book two thumbs up! ... Read more

Product Description
Well-respected psychotherapist Ronnie Kaye--who won her own battle with breast cancer--has now written a compassionate and comprehensive guide to the emotional recovery from this ravaging illness. This uplifting guide helps women turn a devastating crisis into an opportunity for growth and victory. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

My Favorite Book When Diagnosed with Breast Cancer
I only have high praise and warm gratitude for Ronnie Kaye's book which is THE book that helped me get through my own surgeries and chemo and radiation treatments several years ago.I don't think I could have done it without this book. It was the only book I could find at the time that addressed the myriad of feelings I was experiencing.It was the only book I could find at the time that made me feel like a PERSON instead of a PATIENT. And it was definitely the inspiration for my own book about my breast cancer journey, Bright Side of the Road: A Spiritual Journey Through Breast Cancer, which also deals primarily with the emotional and spiritual (not religious) journey that is breast cancer.

Transforming Trials to Lessons in Life
Ronnie Kaye has a marvelous ability to take a potentially devastasting experience and show how to transform it into a stepping stone of life. As both a man and a doctor, I found her book not only enlightening, buttouching as well. Besides illuminating for us -- doctors, patients &family --about how to cope with breast cancer, Ronnie Kaye also providesthe reader invaluable lessons about humor, unconditional love, and thenature of the indomitable spirit. The reader has the opportunity to followin the footsteps of a marvelous teacher who speaks from personal experiencein leading the reader to their own triumphant life.

A positive tool for dealing witha breast cancer diagnosis
Ronnie Kaye has written a wonderful book to help people deal with the emotional issues of a breast cancer diagnosis.It is one of the few that addresses fear of the unknown and the emotional roller coaster that womenare on when dealing with breast cancer.When a woman is being treated, hermedical team's focus is on the clinical part of saving her life.Emotionalissues are rarely addressed or women are told to go find a support group. By using examples of how she has helped women in her own breast cancersupport groups, Ronnie clearly defines coping skills that will help womenregain some control in their lives and live with the fear.Her book islaced with real life scenarios...the very things that all breast cancerpatients face.But she gives us suggestions and ideas on how to liveinstead of dying.Ronnie has been there.She knows that a devastatingdiagnosis doesn't mean the end.Instead, she will guide the reader to anunderstanding of how breast cancer can be an opportunity for growth andfulfillment. ... Read more

Product Description
This book discusses the principles and practice of breast cancer management within the context of multidisciplinary team working and places emphasis on pragmatism. The text provides a comprehensive and contemporary account of the subject and should permit the reader to develop a firm understanding of the disease from epidemiology, genetics and screening, to pathology, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. This in turn will enable healthcare personnel to deliver a high quality and up-to-date service to breast cancer sufferers. ... Read more

Product Description
For the one-in-nine women who will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, as well as the two million women in this country who are already living with this disease, comes an inspiration and affirming new book. Written by women from all walks of life, the empowering personal stories collected here all deliver a simple, but hopeful message: Life goes on. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Best inspirational book for breast cancer survivors!
This is an amazingly wonderful book!Ina Yalof has complied a collection of nearly 100 letters from women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.Some are newly diagnosed; others have survived more than 50 years.They're from all walks of life, all ages with one things in common....thewill to live.These letters give a glimpse into the hearts of thesesurvivors.These are their personal accounts of the battles they havefought and their struggles to live their lives to the fullest.They allecho the same thing....life goes on.For any woman who needs an emotionalrecharge from the devastating diagnosis of breast cancer, this book willlift your spirits like no other. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is the first of several satellite volumes to Tabar's Breast Cancer: The Art and Science of Early Detection with Mammography. Each volume will cover in depth a specific class of mammographic findings. Here, casting-type calcifications, and their significance in diagnosing cancer, are explored. Thick-section pathologic specimens are provided to help the reader understand why the mammograms look the way they do. A selection of full color pathologic images is provided in 3-D, allowing one to visualize the breast substructures in their spatial context. ... Read more

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A Friend to Help You Through...

No matter where you are in your breast cancer journey, this book is the companion you need. Whether...

• you've just heard the dreaded diagnosis for the first time
• you're in the middle of decisions and treatments
• you're experiencing the disappoint of recurrence
• or you're several years beyond the initial trauma...

No matter where you are in that journey, you need someone who understands. You need a trusted friend to walk along beside, someone who's gone before you. You'll find that friend between the pages of this book.

This book is yours to use in whatever way serves you best. You can start in the beginning and work your way through, or you can use the detailed table of contents to help you find just what you need for what you are experiencing on any given day.

This Helpful Guide Will Be Your

* Mentor * Record keeper * Journal * Devotional * Prayer guide * And friend

Each chapter includes

• A Sister Shares -- stories from breast cancer "sisters"
• Mentoring Moment -- lessons learned, helpful hints, encouragement
• God's Love Letter to You -- paraphrased scripture for you to personalize
• Journaling Guides -- encouraging prompts to help you journal your own breast cancer journey
• And more!

You don't have to make this journey alone. Hope and help await you in the pages of this book, written just for you in your time of need.

Bonus! Sanity Tools Appendix includes

• How to do research
• National contacts
• Decision-making worksheets
• Breast cancer journey map
• Finding your purpose in your pain
• And much, much, more

Customer Reviews (10)

This comforting book will help anyone diagnosed with breast cancer find a place of solace and hope ...
The tension in the room is almost palpable.The scenario from hospital to hospital is almost generic:Several women are seated around a room, each sporting an ill-fitting gown that inevitably exposes parts of her body to total strangers. There is a duet of women holding a loud and senseless conversation in one corner while others shuffle through outdated magazines,staring at pages without really seeing them.The entrance and exit of women from the room is like so much startling punctuation.

"You can undress in here.Take a gown and leave your street clothes in this locker.You can take your pocketbook with you."

"You can get dressed and go home now."

"The doctor will be down in a few minutes to talk to you."

Janet Thompson, founder of the Woman to Woman Mentoring Ministry, one of those "unfortunates" who had to wait for the doctor, tells about her unnerving experience in her book, "Dear God, they say it's Cancer: A Companion Guide for Women on the Breast Cancer Journey."Though no stranger to adversity, Janet was totally shocked by this unexpected diagnosis of breast cancer and, as she relates, "a cancer diagnosis affects the whole family, and their world starts to whirl with yours."Through her tears, trials and tribulation she decided that her breast cancer was a gift from God, an opportunity to share with others and to help them along in their journey through breast cancer.

Thompson divides each chapter into subsections that include a "Topic Title" (quotation), "Dear God" (her personal letter to God), "A Sister Shares" (an appropriate vignette from a breast cancer sister or sisters), "Mentoring Moments" (bits of advice, tips, inspiration), "God's Love Letter to You" (a personalized scriptural adaptation), "Let's Pray" (scriptural or praying with the author) and "Your Letter to God" (opportunities to journal).False alarms, fear, apprehension, "routine" vs "diagnostic" mammograms, meeting the specialists, biopsies, agonizing waits, telling the family, "paralyzing shock," confusion, taking an active role in one's treatment, lumpectomy or mastectomy, hair loss, bodily changes ... this book will help a woman to sort, journal and travel along with others through her illness (or that of another woman) with emotional and spiritual support from the author and other breast cancer sisters/survivors.

This book, regardless of whether or not one is a Christian, will be a useful book to have, read and share with others.One in seven women will get breast cancer in their lifetime and one of them could well be you or someone you love.It was startling to casually come across a line in the book that told of the fates of the women who contributed to the "A Sister Shares" sections."Leslie's recurrence took her life while I was writing this book."October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.Call to schedule a mammogram today.

"Please don't let me be one of them."
-- Janet Thompson

A Cancer Patient Must
Bought this book for my friend who has breast cancer and is going through some difficult chemo. She has done nothing but rave about this book and thanked me over and over. She said it has offered some great insights and helped her know she isn't alone!!!

The Breast Cancer Journey Guide
This book has been very helpful in the information and experiences other women have gone through in their breast cancer journey. One must remember that every woman is different and reacts to these experiences differently, but overall, it has been very helpful in knowing what to expect in the future, while connecting with what has already been experienced and knowing someone understands.

Just When I Needed It...
I came across this book about midway through my radiation treatment.With other people thinking, "Well, she got through surgeries and chemotherapy; this radiation treatment doesn't seem to be all that difficult for her", the spiritual support was just what I needed.

This book is one I have purchased and sent to a friend between her diagnosis and treatment; she says it has been very helpful, especially the page format of wide margins for your own notes and list and appointment pages.

I recommend this book as a basic breast cancer reference book.

A Terrific Resource for Church Ministry
This book is a terrific resource for our church's Caring Hearts ministry to hand out to newly diagnosed cancer patients.Our mission is to offer Christ-centered personal and confidential comfort and support to caregivers, cancer patients, and the bereaved in our congregation.This book is a comprehensive, practical guide that is easy-to-read; yet more importantly, it offers such wonderful spiritual encouragement to those faced with cancer.Our true hope and strength is found in Jesus, our Lord, and each chapter leads you directly there.

... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

For anyone that has been touched by breast cancer
During my battle with breast cancer, this became the most important book in my struggle with my diagnosis and treatment. It was sitting quietly on a bookshelf at the chemo infusion room. What a beautiful, beautiful, uplifting, empowering book! It was hard to find during that time, but I am pleased to see that Amazon has it available now. Highly recommended to anyone who has been touched by breast cancer, personally or thru someone you love. The photographer captures the spirit of the women perfectly, and their stories are well written. It touched the depths of my soul.

Buy this book
I know many of the women in this book.They are, or were, indeed warrior women.I have reassessed my opinion of the tenacity of the human spirit after knowing them.Springer catches the essence of these women in her inimitable way.

greatest book ever
This is the best book I have ever read. It is not only beautiful but also wonderfully written. I suggest this book for anyone battling cancer.

A very inspiring book!
This book is one of the most beautiful and inspiring books that I have read. The photography is spectacular!!! If you know someone who has just been diagnosed with Breast Cancer, give this book to them. It will givethem hope for the future and help them realize that they are not alone.

Excellent!
Incredible photographs and prosen are contained in this book.A moving, sensitive chronicle of cancer survivorship that changed my perceptions forever.I recommend it unreservedly. I can't wait until Springer's next book! ... Read more