A Cancer Survivor's Almanac: Charting Your Journey

by National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, Barbara Hoffman JD (Editor), Fitzhugh Mullan MD (Introduction)

Overview

"I’m thrilled that this book is available to cancer survivors. I only wish I’d had a copy 10 years ago when I was diagnosed with breast cancer."
—Jill Eikenberry, actor and breast cancer advocate

"A valuable resource for survivors."
—Peari Moore, RN, MN, FAAN, Executive Director, Oncology Nursing Society

"A Cancer Survivor’s Almanac is a clearly written, sensitive, and sensible guide to surviving with cancer. This almanac can help you more comfortably and knowledgeably take charge of your life with cancer."
—David Spiegel, MD, Professor of Psychiatry&Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, and author, Living Beyond Limits (Ballantine, 1994)

"This indispensible quide provides helpful information and much-needed support that will improve the quality of life for cancer survivors."
—Richard Klausner, MD, Director, National Cancer Institute

"From the time of its discovery and for the balance of life, an individual diagnosed with cancer is a survivor."
—National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship Charter

A Cancer Survivor’s Almanac: Charting Your Journey serves as a guide to help survivors, caregivers, families, and friends chart a survivorship journey. Written by the survivors and professionals who founded the cancer survivorship movement, A Cancer Survivor’s Almanac provides essential up-to-date, practical information on:

• The latest information in medical diagnosis, treatment, pain control, and long-term and late effects of cancer treatment
• Health insurance — how to find and keep it under the most current laws (including the federal health reform law which takes effect in 1997)
• Tips on how to find and work with the best doctors and hospitals
• Understanding the risks and benefits of unconventional treatments
• How to win the battle against job discrimination
• Clear answers to legal and financial questions
• How to cope with the personal and social impact of cancer
• Communicating with family and friends, including dealing with grief and loss
• The benefits of peer support, with tips on starting your own peer-support network
• Advocating for yourself and others

In addition, an expanded Resource Section lists hundreds of organizations and agencies that offer help regarding specific cancer-related issues and explains how to find cancer information through the Internet. Cancer survivors and their caregivers, families, and friends share their greatest gifts to today’s survivors— the power of knowledge. No cancer journey is easy. This book, however, provides the information, understanding, support, and resources to help dispel the myths and improve the quality of life with, through, and beyond cancer. All royalties from the sales of this book benefit the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780470352922
Publisher:	Trade Paper Press
Publication date:	05/02/2008
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	384
File size:	961 KB

Table of Contents

DEDICATION (Senator Joe Lieberman).

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

INTRODUCTION (Sam Donaldson).

PART ONE—TAKING CARE OF YOUR MEDICAL NEEDS.

CHAPTER 1: UNDERSTANDING CANCER, ITS TREATMENT, AND THE SIDE EFFECTS OF TREATMENT (Patricia Ganz).

CHAPTER 2: WORKING WITH YOUR DOCTOR AND HOSPITAL: BECOMING A WISE CONSUMER (Natalie Davis Spingarn and Nancy H. Chasen).

CHAPTER 3: YOU AND YOUR HEALTH CARE TEAM: WORKING TOGETHER (Elizabeth J. Clark).

CHAPTER 4: SEXUALITY AND FERTILITY (Debra Thaler-DeMers).

CHAPTER 5: COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES THERAPY (Georgia Decker).

PART TWO—TAKING CARE OF YOUR EMOTIONAL, SPIRITUAL, AND SOCIAL NEEDS.

CHAPTER 6: MIND AND BODY: HARNESSING YOUR INNER RESOURCES (Neil Fiore).

CHAPTER 7: FAMILY CHALLENGES: COMMUNICATION AND TEAMWORK (Elizabeth J. Clark).

CHAPTER 8: THE POWER OF PEER SUPPORT: HOW TO BENEFIT FROM THE WISDOM OF OTHER SURVIVORS (Catherine Logan-Carillo and Gena Love).

CHAPTER 9: HOW CULTURE AFFECTS CANCER SURVIVORSHIP (Jody Pelusi).

CHAPTER 10: SPECIAL ISSUES FOR THE OLDER SURVIVOR (Elizabeth J. Clark).

CHAPTER 11: CONFRONTING THE END OF LIFE (Elizabeth J. Clark).

PART THREE—TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS: INSURANCE, EMPLOYMENT, LEGAL, AND FINANCIAL MATTERS.

CHAPTER 12: STRAIGHT TALK ABOUT INSURANCE AND HEALTH PLANS (Irene C. Card).

CHAPTER 13: WORKING IT OUT: YOUR EMPLOYMENT RIGHTS (Barbara Hoffman).

CHAPTER 14: LEGAL AND FINANCIAL CONCERNS (Barbara Hoffman).

PART FOUR—TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF.

CHAPTER 15: CANCER SURVIVORSHIP: DEFINING OUR DESTINY (Susan Leigh).

CHAPTER 16: SURVIVORS AS ADVOCATES (Ellen Stovall and Elizabeth J. Clark).

CHAPTER 17: RESOURCES (Barbara Hoffman).

INDEX.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS.

Editorial Reviews

"I’m thrilled that this book is available to cancer survivors. I only wish I’d had a copy 10 years ago when I was diagnosed with breast cancer."
—Jill Eikenberry, actor and breast cancer advocate

"A valuable resource for survivors."
—Peari Moore, RN, MN, FAAN, Executive Director, Oncology Nursing Society

"A Cancer Survivor’s Almanac is a clearly written, sensitive, and sensible guide to surviving with cancer. This almanac can help you more comfortably and knowledgeably take charge of your life with cancer."
—David Spiegel, MD, Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford UniversitySchool of Medicine, and author, Living Beyond Limits (Ballantine, 1994)

"This indispensable guide provides helpful information and much-needed support that will improve the quality of life for cancer survivors."
—Richard Klausner, MD, Director, National Cancer Institute

"From the time of its discovery and for the balance of life, an individual diagnosed with cancer is a survivor."
—National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship Charter

From the Publisher