- 1. A World Turned Upside Down
- 2. You’re Not a Statistic
- 3. A Roller-Coaster Ride
- 4. One Enemy, Many Allies
- 5. Telling Others about the Cancer Diagnosis
Contents and Excerpts
Part 1: What Do I Do Now?
Click here for a list of chapters in this part. (Excerpts available to view.)Part 2: Dealing with the Emotional Dimension of Cancer
Click here for a list of chapters in this part. (Excerpts available to view.)- 6. The Emotional Aftershocks of a Cancer Diagnosis
- 7. Accept and Express Your Feelings
- 8. Don’t Feel Bad about Feeling Bad
- 9. Have a Good Cry
- 10. Feel Free to Get Angry
- 11. Feel Free Not to Get Angry
Part 3: Becoming Informed
Click here for a list of chapters in this part. (Excerpts available to view.)- 12. The Value of Being Informed
- 13. Medical Questions to Ask and When to Ask Them
- 14. Where to Look for Information about Your Kind of Cancer
- 15. Network with People Who Have Been There
- 16. Keeping Track of Personal Medical Information
- 17. Thanking People Who Have Helped You Learn More
- 18. Updating People Who Have Helped You Learn More
Part 4: Understanding Medical Matters
Click here for a list of chapters in this part. (Excerpts available to view.)- 19. Getting a Second Opinion
- 20. Clinical Trials
- 21. Pain Management
- 22. Side Effects
- 23. Palliative Care
Part 5: Alternative or Complementary Therapies
Click here for a list of chapters in this part.- 24. Defining and Describing Alternative and Complementary Therapies
- 25. Ask First
- 26. Three Categories for Considering Suggestions
Part 6: Working with and Relating to Your Medical Team
Click here for a list of chapters in this part. (Excerpts available to view.)- 27. Bring Someone with You to Appointments
- 28. Take Notes
- 29. Focus Your Questions
- 30. Share Streamlined Information
- 31. The Gift of Empathy
- 32. Laughter Enhances the Best Medicine
- 33. Passivity Doesn’t Work
- 34. Aggression Doesn’t Work
- 35. Assertiveness Works
- 36. Be an Appreciator
- 37. Help Your Medical Team Help You
Part 7: Defining and Caring for Yourself
Click here for a list of chapters in this part. (Excerpts available to view.)- 38. Don’t Let Cancer Define You
- 39. Praise Yourself for Your Courage
- 40. Do Something Nice for Yourself
- 41. Go Easy on Yourself
- 42. Holidays and Other Celebrations
- 43. Have a Good Laugh
- 44. Forgive Others
- 45. Forgive Yourself
- 46. Accept Help
Part 8: Relating to Immediate Family
Click here for a list of chapters in this part. (Excerpts available to view.)- 47. Cancer Upsets the Family Dynamic
- 48. Everyone Reacts Differently
- 49. Go Easy on Each Other
- 50. Share What You’re Feeling
- 51. Ask Others How They’re Doing
- 52. Listen Carefully
- 53. Create a Safe Place
Part 9: Relating to Friends and Extended Family
Click here for a list of chapters in this part. (Excerpts available to view.)- 54. Keeping Family and Friends Up to Date
- 55. Some Relationships May Change
- 56. Seek Listeners, Not Lecturers
- 57. Find One or Two Triple-A Friends
- 58. Tell Others What You Need
- 59. Seeing Other People Go On with Their Lives
- 60. Say No
- 61. Say Yes
- 62. Ignore Raised Eyebrows
- 63. Avoid Toxic Individuals
Part 10: Additional Support
Click here for a list of chapters in this part.- 64. Find Kindred Spirits
- 65. Consider a Support Group
- 66. Share, Don’t Compare
- 67. Be Open to Professional Counseling
Part 11: Spiritual Matters
Click here for a list of chapters in this part. (Excerpts available to view.)- 68. The Spiritual Side of Dealing with Cancer
- 69. A Spiritual Roller Coaster
- 70. Be Totally Honest with God
- 71. Exercise Your Spirituality
- 72. Seek Out Spiritual Community
Part 12: Giving Back
Click here for a list of chapters in this part.- 73. Pay It Forward
- 74. Become an Advocate
Appendix
- Chronological Diagnosis and Treatment Tracking Tools