A Breast Cancer Survival Handbook - Chapter List

Use this list to identify your immediate needs. Whether you are feeling panicked about hair loss, your first trip to the chemo ward, or radiation, my hope is that you will find comfort here. I have done my best to make these chapters easy to read, and kept them very relevant to the day-to-day life that you are facing. Visitor comments and suggestions for future topics are welcome, and I love to get your email, so please feel free to contact me.

Current Chapter List

Cancer tips: Healthy Eating
Nutrition in a nutshell.
Chemotherapy and Caring for Your Mouth
Practical preventative advice you need to know right away.
Post Breast Cancer Surgery Tips
It's all about you.
Pre-Chemo Jitters
How I got through pre-chemotherapy nervousness, and you will, too.
Getting Through Chemo
Serious talk about chemotherapy side effects.
Chemotherapy and Heartburn
Being prepared helps.
Chemotherapy and Hair Loss
Firsthand sharing of what losing my hair was like for me, and how you can help yourself.
Chemotherapy and Staying Positive
What happened when I got a chemotherapy reprieve.
Breat Cancer and Post-Radiation Fatigue
In its own way, radiation can take so much out of you, and no, you're not imagining it.
Fear of Recurrence
The new facts of life for cancer survivors.
Breast Cancer and Personal Growth
Poignant thoughts about cancer and irony.
Up Wright (non-fiction, restful)
For nature lovers.

Future Chapters List

Legal Stuff

Resources

I have been so grateful to have had access to web-based support groups and to breast cancer information. Here's a list of Web Resources that helped me. If you know of other good ones, please e-mail me and I will add them to the list.

Wonderful Books

Here's a short list of books that I found helpful after I was diagnosed with breast cancer. As soon as I can I'll add to the list and I'll post some reviews, as well.

Walk-a-thon 2007

Every year, the Weekend to End Breast Cancer http://www.endcancer.ca raises tens of millions of dollars for breast cancer research, in several major cities across the country. Within each participating city, a carefully selected hospital receives valuable funding for research and facilities. Each Walker raises a minimum of $2000 for the privilege of walking 60 kilometres over a two-day weekend. Thousands of volunteers across the country donate their time, not only on the days of the event, but also on days training for their part in it. I made this Walk in 2005, not even a year after my treatment, volunteered in 2006 and have done so again for 2007.

I strongly urge you to become involved with this event or others like it. They are enormously uplifting, and you will come away with great memories etched into your heart. With each donation from my sponsors, I wondered if this could be the money that would fund a cure, because I do believe that we will find a cure.