This is a comprehensive, step-by-step manual for anyone who has recently been diagnosed with cancer. The authors offer practical advice and worksheets to help patients figure out exactly what to do.
Author Credibility
When It's Cancer is written by a husband and wife team (an oncologist and a psychologist) who developed a system to help people live well while fighting cancer. In a strange twist of fate, life provided both doctors an opportunity to try the system themselves. Saar Porrath developed and eventually died from plasma cell leukemia. His wife, Toni Bernay, developed cancer of the septum and is now cancer-free. I can think of few other authors who would be more qualified to give advice on practical ways to live well with cancer.What's Good About this Book
Have you ever been blindfolded, spun around, then told to walk a straight line? Well, that's kind of what being diagnosed with cancer is like. Nauseated and disoriented, you're supposed to do something you're not sure you can do. It helps to have someone take you by the arm while you navigate. That's what this book does by providing specific advice, worksheets, charts, and web sites.For example, the authors don't simply say "It's important to let people help you." Instead, they explain in depth why it's important, acknowledge the difficulty of doing so, provide exercises to help identify specific reasons why asking for help is difficult for you, then provide examples of the kind of help you may need and the people who may be able to help (i.e., spouse, partner, parent, sibling, etc).
What's Bad About This Book
The only way I think When It's Cancer could have been improved is if it had provided more practical information regarding cancer patient advocates (CPAs). CPAs are professionals with a medical background who can fill in the gaps: do the things your personal advocate (spouse, partner, etc.) doesn't have the training to do and that your doctor doesn't have the time to do. Anyone reading the book will likely be sold on the idea of employing a CPA, but the expense (and whether the service is ever covered under insurance) is never discussed.Who Should Read this Book?
Anyone who has recently been diagnosed with cancer should read When It's Cancer. The book is very detailed and frankly, a lot of work. It's kind of like a 12-step program: it will only work if the person wants to use it. So if you plan to give this book as a gift, just make sure it's a gift with no strings attached. (You want to give someone options, not homework.) As long as you heed the hands-off advice, I think When It's Cancer would make a great gift from someone who wants to help but isn't sure how to do so.
