After Breast Cancer

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Summary: Living in fear after a breast cancer diagnosis? Read this!
Review: Living a life without fear after a breast cancer diagnosis eludes many of us. Now we have some answers to the questions that may plague us. Musa Mayer gives us facts, figures and suggestions for living lives less tainted with anxiety.

She has beautifully written another important book and I am highly recommending it to all those who have been touched by breast cancer.

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Summary: After Breast Cancer: Answers to the Questions You're Afraid
Review: Musa has once again nailed this subject to the wall, in the most sensitive way she has captured the heart and soul of breast cancer "survivors". Through her tireless support and determination she has cut through all the "stuff" and put on paper the most comprehensive guide to living after diagnosis, 'the world of the unknown" for most of us. She has helped to give me the courage to let go and go forward. Many thanks to Musa.

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Summary: After Breast Cancer..
Review: Musa Mayer has captured almost every feeling I've had since I was diagnosed with breast cancer 18 months ago. Truly one of the best books on breast cancer I've read.

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Summary: The Best Book To Read When Treatment Ends
Review: Of all the books out there on breast cancer survival, this one is the very best. It is full of first hand accounts from people who have coped with treatment and the after effects of breast cancer.

Unlike many of the fluff books on the market about breast cancer survival, this book is organized into sections that cover the various fears and topics that concern the aftermath of treatment. It goes beyond other books by presenting factual and helpful information everyone needs to face those fears and make logical decisions concerning follow up testing.

I read this book in one sitting and wish it had been written when my treatment ended. Every breast cancer patient should have this book and so should their oncologist!

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Summary: After Breast Cancer Reassures, Connects BC Survivors
Review: Relief. Laughter. Tears. A knowing nod. A chill. I devoured this book, hungrily,as I read my sister's stories. As a breast cancer survivor, I was told repeatedly by my care providers "not to worry"... "you have beat this"... "walk away now"... "close this chapter of the book"... "move on"... But how do we do that when the fact remains that almost half of all women diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC), as I was, eventually die of the disease? I felt misunderstood... made to feel a bit of the hypochondriac, as I visited my oncologist with each back pain... each unrelenting headache... each persistant cough? WHEN WILL I FINALLY STOP LOOKING OVER MY SHOULDER? And then I read this book. Musa Mayer writes from her own experience as a breast cancer survivor, using her skills as a therapist and as a patient advocate. I finally feel like someone understands. She writes brilliantly, with clarity of vision and a spirited, confident heart. She reveals the experiences of many, MANY women who share my fears, without diminishing my own. She understands, yes... yet the book's greatest gift is the knowledge that I am not alone.

Rating:
Summary: After Breast Cancer: Answers to the Questions You're Afraid
Review: Relief. Laughter. Tears. A knowing nod. A chill. I devoured this book, hungrily,as I read my sister's stories. As a breast cancer survivor, I was told repeatedly by my care providers "not to worry"... "you have beat this"... "walk away now"... "close this chapter of the book"... "move on"... But how do we do that when the fact remains that almost half of all women diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC), as I was, eventually die of the disease? I felt misunderstood... made to feel a bit of the hypochondriac, as I visited my oncologist with each back pain... each unrelenting headache... each persistant cough? WHEN WILL I FINALLY STOP LOOKING OVER MY SHOULDER? And then I read this book. Musa Mayer writes from her own experience as a breast cancer survivor, using her skills as a therapist and as a patient advocate. I finally feel like someone understands. She writes brilliantly, with clarity of vision and a spirited, confident heart. She reveals the experiences of many, MANY women who share my fears, without diminishing my own. She understands, yes... yet the book's greatest gift is the knowledge that I am not alone.

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Summary: Excellent Support and Information
Review: This book confronts the issue of breast cancer recurrence head on with excellent information and quotes from others going through the situation. Without a doubt this book helped change my perspective on this issue and helped me cope with wondering if this one bout of breast cancer was/is my last, or if it's lurking in the future somewhere. I've returned to re-read sections of this book many times and each time I gain new perspective.

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Summary: After Breast Cancer is really when the fear begins
Review: This book really hit home for me because it spoke to the deep fears I was not sharing with others. "After Breast Cancer" addresses the issues we all have to deal with when the initial 'shock', treatment, and testing is over. After the diagnosis, surgery and treatment, I felt a little like one does after the funeral of someone close. You go through the motions, mostly in shock still. Everyone is around you, concerned and caring and holding you up. Then all of sudden, it's quiet. For them, it's over. For you, it's just begun. This is where "After Breast Cancer" comes in and plays such an important role.

I like the fact too that the author has interviewed real people feeling this real loss and fear of the future. For me, this book at this time in the process of life was and is a blessing to enable me to go on with more knowledge and strength. I will read it again and again and recommend it to all who are just picking up the pieces after the storm.

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Summary: A phenomenal guide with great perspective
Review: This is a must-buy for a person with breast cancer, or that person's family members, friends, and even medical professionals. It truly answers questions that people are afraid to ask, and does so in a lucid way that leaves one feeling clearer about what's next... and calmer at the same time.

Musa Mayer is an internationally known and respected breast cancer activist who interviews a number of breast cancer survivors about the emotional fallout of a cancer diagnosis and carefully presents their views. She also sheds light on what sort of medical follow-up is reasonable, and why, and what sort is not useful, and why not.

The book is a gem: well-crafted, sensitive, well-researched. It fills a void. The end of treatment often entails a lot of uncertainty that patients don't know how to resolve, a feeling of unease and depression at odds with what "civilians" (or non-cancer patients) might expect. The latter might think that the end of treatment would be a time for whooping and hollering. But a breast cancer patient is left feeling in limbo, not sure what's next.

This book helps enormously. I cannot praise it highly enough.

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Summary: How to live well after breast cancer
Review: This is the book you need AFTER you've had surgery, radiotherapy, chemo, whatever - when the doctors have more or less finished with you and you're left to get on with a rather different life. How to face the fear of recurrence, how not to worry about ordinary aches & pains, how to deal with other people's fears and ignorance - in fact, how to rebuild a really good life.