Living With Childhood Cancer : A Practical Guide to Help Families Cope

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book for parents of children with cancer.
Review: I highly recommend this book for parents of children with cancer. It provides precisely what the title promises: 'A practical guide to help families cope.' Unfortunately, this book was not available until my son was off-treatment for cancer; today, turning the pages of the book , I find the reading comforting, cozy . . . kind of like sitting down and talking with a good friend. The authors know what I felt during those first stressful years of treatment, and if I had had the book then, I would have felt both comforted and armed with methods to deal with the psychological turmoil that comes with hearing those words "your child has cancer". Woznick and Goodheart include useful chapters on relieving pain and side effects, encouraging child development during treatment, and building self-esteem in your child, as well as a chapter on dying and grieving. The book also has an excellent resource section, forty-four pages of annotated listings of helpful organizations, support groups, web sites, books, and videos.

Rating:
Summary: Well written and researched
Review: This book is written by a parent and grandparent of a childhood cancer survivor and has many quotations from other parents whose children have or had cancer. They've been there...they know what you are going through. Bulleted lists of quick tips and tricks are extremely helpful for busy parents who have little time for reading while in the throes of treatment. For those times when a parent finds they have too much time on their hands, like during admissions and while waiting umpteen hours in hospital waiting rooms, the book reads easily and is full of practical coping advice and resources. I only wish that this book had been available when my son was on treatment!