Books That Helped/BC books you'd recommend

labelle

There may already be a thread like this but I can't find it.

I am a big read and researcher. My BA is in English Lit, so I kind of can't help myself. Since being diagnosed with breast cancer the end of September, I've bought a lot of books about breast cancer, mostly on my Kindle (I love my Kindle). Some have been good, some great, some a real waste of money. Anyway, I'm hoping to start a thread here where we can recommend resources to others to maximize the time and money they might wish to spend buying books on this topic. Or conversely, to list any books you think were a total waste of your time and money and you wish to warn others about.

Number One pick is the latest addition of Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book. It told me most of the things I wanted to know about the disease of breast cancer and its treatment in up to date medical detail. It provides much more than a superficial overview of breast cancer, unlike several books I ordered that didn't really tell me anything I didn't already know. It is also a very good general breast book discussing benign conditions of and changes in the breast, the need for self exams, etc. So good in fact I think I'll get each of my daughters a copy of Xmas. It contains a fair amount of complex medical information but is definitely written for laypersons, very readable, contains primarily very mainstream medical information.

Number Two pick is Breast Cancer: 50 Essential Things You Can Do by Greg Anderson. This book is a little more outside of the mainstream, but does not discount the importance of conventional treatment. It does however emphasis the mind/body connection with wellness. I found it an uplifting read and I'm trying to put into practice many of the suggestions in this book. They may or may not impact my physical health but I'm pretty sure they are helping with my mental health/continued sanity. And that is important too, LOL.

Non-breast cancer reading pick goes to The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. This is an all time favorite of mine. It's a wonderful, magical book Every time I read it, and I've read it many times, I find something new and inspiring between its pages.

Okay, someone else's turn. What are you reading or what have you read that you think others would benefit from?

voraciousreader

NCCN breast cancer treatment guidelines 2014 professional version (red logo). Pubmed. And the mother of all breast cancer meetings....The December annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. If your eyes aren't bloodshot by Spring...there is always the annual ASCO meeting.

labelle

Bloodshot indeed. LOL. Due to my recent avid readership on NCCN's website it seems I am now on their e-mail list. Just got a nice update about lung cancer treatment yesterday.

voraciousreader

lol

Hopeful82014

Labelle, was that the 2010 version of Love's tome, or is there a new one? I have the 2010 from the library but find a lot that's in need of updating, as is the info on her site.

I, too, liked Greg Anderson's book. I've got a copy from the library but may purchase it for myself.

The Emperor of All Maladies is a dense but great read - it's a history of cancer and cancer research.

I'm currently reading Otis Brawley's How We Do Harm, which is helpful in understanding contemporary issues in cancer treatment and research as well as some aspects of clinical trials.

Coping with the Emotional Impact of Cancer by Neil Fiore is another that I've found helpful. It's not specifically targeted to breast cancer and I think I like it better for that.

There were several books that left me more depressed or angry than anything else. Palaver about the value of the 'breast cancer journey' and fun ways to approach hair loss from chemo makes me see red.

My husband has read several books and found Stand By Her to be the most helpful, although we did have to have a conversation about whether and how to apply all of the recommendations. He did not particularly like Breast Cancer Husband, finding it somewhat too simplistic. It's been around for a while and others may find it helpful.

Again, I'd highly recommend checking the library before buying too many of these. You don't know until you get into them whether they'll meet your needs and I, for one, do NOT want a shelf full of books on this topic taking up space in my home long-term. Some books were so awful that I could hardly wait to return them to the library. That was the case with some of the guided imagery CDs as well, sadly.

wrenn

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screen shots of my ibooks. Most of them are related to my cancer "coping". I was too lazy to type it all out.