Book Review – Caring

If you are a full-time or part-time carer for your loved one, here you will find both insights and humour. You will find out that you are not alone, and that you’re not doing so badly. You will also find out that you are not really a selfish pig – but maybe you should be, just a little bit. Full of fabulous practical advice and sharing the realities of caring as only another caregiver could do.

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Book Review – Emotional Support

This book is a wonderful introduction to The Sedona Method, which is a way to let go of feelings in the moment. Working through this book is like taking an advanced course on the Inner Journey. I use The Sedona Method to deal with any emotions from minor irritation through to deep difficulties and challenges from the past or the present.

For more cancer books, visit Cancer Book Reviews

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Book Review – Cancer Help

This is a helpful book both for those who want to better understand the risks of cervical cancer or the screening programme, and for anyone who has had an abnormal smear test or treatment for cervical cancer. It explains clearly the types of abnormality and what they mean, and what treatments may be suggested. The snippets of the author’s experience and others bring the information to life, which stops it being too dry and factual. It’s a well-presented, small book which is packed with information, support and further reading resources. It also has nice wide margins which allow you to make your own notes. The information on screening is UK-specific.

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View Cervical Cancer: The Essential Guide on Amazon US

Book Review – Cancer Help

This is a very targetted book to its intended audience – people having chemotherapy. It explains how chemotherapy works and some of the situations in which it might be helpful. There is a clear explanation as to why ‘adjuvant chemotherapy’ might be prescribed, but I would like to have understood better why chemotherapy would be given to someone where it is not expected to cure.
The specific subject is covered well, though the language may well be difficult to understand for many. Possible side effects and ways to handle them are covered, including alternative and non-medical approaches.
Could also be read by family members, though the person having treatment is addressed in the book as ‘you’. The information in the book is UK-specific and there are a few UK organisations listed.

For more cancer books, visit Cancer Book Review

Book Review – End of Life

Dying is something we all have in common. It is a natural process, and yet more and more it is feared in our society. We have fought so hard against death that it seems we now regard the ending of life as a failure, rather than a time of peace.
Felicity Warner’s book addresses this issue. The beginning of the book looks at what a good death might be, and would be helpful to a person contemplating the end of their own life. The majority of the book, however, is of use to those around who have the opportunity to improve the experience of death both for the person going through the process and all the loving relatives and friends who will carry the memories created forward with them.
There is advice about the stages of dying, keeping vigil for the dying and the ‘tool kit’ of items which may be of use. In contrast to the medical tools which are designed to keep someone alive, these tools are gentle items such as a soft shawl or blanket.
This book uses concepts such as the soul, and some Eastern energy philosophy, so it would be helpful to have an open mind to such concepts in order to make the most use of the information.
This is a very supportive book which would be of great help to anyone in a close relationship with someone who is dying.

View Gentle Dying on Amazon US

For more cancer books, visit Cancer Book Review

Recommended Reading

Article Being Told the Cancer is Terminal
Article The Process of Death
Article Creating Your Own Funeral Service
Their Cancer – Your Journey by Anne Orchard

Further Resources

Felicity Warner’s Soul Midwives

Book Review – Cancer Help

This straightforward book provides the single best summing up of a healthy approach to a cancer diagnosis that I have seen. It covers the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects of a return to health, and sums up wisdom gained from those who have recovered against the odds. The information is presented in short sections, each with an ‘important thing to do’, which makes it less overwhelming than some longer books. Clarifies why it is important for the person with cancer to feel in control of their treatment and health. May make a welcome gift for the person with cancer if they are looking for inspiration as to how to face their cancer.

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Book Review – Family Support

‘What can I do to help?’ is one of the first questions we want answered when someone we care about it ill. You can get answers, and lots of personal stories, from reading this book. I loved the light-hearted tone and straight talking from this book, and found I was fascinated by the details of how other people coped in this situation.

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View What Can I Do To Help? on Amazon US

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Book Review – Cancer Help

Anybody who feels that the right approach to treating cancer must be more than being passive and having treatments in hospital will be in tune with this book. It describes the holistic approach taken at Penny Brohn Cancer Care (formerly the Bristol Cancer Help Centre), and how people with cancer can take a more active approach to their illness. It also includes a chapter about how supporters are also affected, and how they can handle this.

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View The Bristol Approach to Living with Cancer on Amazon.com

Book Review – Cancer Help

Thank goodness for this book! When my mother-in-law was receiving treatment, there was no logical reason why I needed to know all the details. But I wanted to know! Reading and understanding the possible effects made me more confident in talking to her about the treatment. I even had the idea I might be able to weigh in with helpful suggestions at some stage, if they were needed.

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View the Chemotherapy & Radiation Therapy Survival Guide on Amazon US

Book Review – Cancer Memoir

An unexpectedly light-hearted memoir about Janice’s experience of breast cancer, and how it led to her becoming a happier person. I loved the flashbacks to her childhood, and the insight into how that childhood affects her feelings in the present. Another interesting aspect was the letters between doctors. Sometimes I felt I was reading between the lines and laughing at what was not being said.
A very helpful read for any family member struggling to understand why someone with cancer has made a particular treatment choice, because Day shares her own thoughts as she rejects some of the treatments she is offered.
In spite of the light and self-deprecating tone, there are some real nuggets of wisdom, such as when she is told ‘you must destroy the environment in which the cancer thrives’. Wise words, and a laugh out loud read – a great combination.

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View Getting it Off My Chest on Amazon US