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Erica_Shadiac's avatar
Erica_Shadiac
Member
12 years ago

General Cancer Books

A couple of books I found interesting reading. Always a personal slant helps AND Australian based.

'You can get through this' by Domini Stuart

  • Domini follows through the journey of breast cancer but I especially like her focus on attitude
  • "Whether or not a positive attitude has any effect on how long we live, it will profoundly affect the quality of our lives"

'You can conquer cancer' by Ian Gawler

  • Ian looks at Nutrition and Mind Training, amongst other things

'Breast Cancer: Taking Control' by John Boyages

  • This I'm finding is better to read as new stages of treatment come along - too much info all at once

I'm finding that I want to reread things to help me focus and to help me try to change the way I do things. (Also chemo brain - what did I read!?) This is perhaps more with diet because I have always been a positive person and I have exercised almost daily for over 30 years. That helps me feel good and positive! My diet hasn't been bad and I maintain a reasonable weight but it could be better. I also don't feel like I am a particularly stressed person but I do have a demanding full time job and I have had some huge changes in my personal life over the past 3 years. It is good to have a break from work but it is also good to know I can go back when treatment is over as I do enjoy it. It is also good to know I am in good place in my personal life too. (that's 4 'good's in 2 sentences - not good, says the teacher in me! haha) AND having cancer has opened so many new doors, given me opportunities I would not otherwise have had and allowed me to take time to smell the roses!

 

3 Replies

  • Erica_Shadiac's avatar
    Erica_Shadiac
    Member
    12 years ago
    You're so close to done! Feeling cooked?? Movie sounds interesting. I haven't read the pathology report myself.... Hmmm do I want to.... ? I've just been happy trusting in my case manager (my surgeon). Will dwell on that one. Can you remember how quickly the rash on your hands went away when Taxol was finished? Did you lose your sense of taste too? If so how long before things tasted 'normal'? Two more weeks of Taxol!! Wish I could catch up to you! Haha Erica :)
  • Erica_Shadiac's avatar
    Erica_Shadiac
    Member
    12 years ago
    You're so close to done! Feeling cooked?? Movie sounds interesting. I haven't read the pathology report myself.... Hmmm do I want to.... ? I've just been happy trusting in my case manager (my surgeon). Will dwell on that one. Can you remember how quickly the rash on your hands went away when Taxol was finished? Did you lose your sense of taste too? If so how long before things tasted 'normal'? Two more weeks of Taxol!! Wish I could catch up to you! Haha Erica :)
  • Cherylek's avatar
    Cherylek
    Member
    12 years ago
    There is a movie which is on video called Living Proof starring Harry Connick Jnr. which is about Herceptin and how it went from the laboratory to being approved as a breast cancer treatment. I've just found out about it and have ordered it online at fishpond.com.au. I have also read Professor Boyages book Breast Cancer taking control and found it to be a fantastic book. It reminded me to get the original pathology report which I read with the help of this book. I actually found it upsetting to read the report as it reminded me how far I had come in my treatment and I realised that they had found either two tumours adding up to 39mm or one 39mm. Any rate that's all done and dusted and I have one more week of rads. Cheryle :)