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shrink
shrink Member Posts: 936
edited June 2014 in Recommend Your Resources
Red Devil is an excellent book by Kathleen Russell Rich. It's about her diagnosis and treatment 7-10 years ago. She writes honestly and beautifully about her experience but this is not for the newly diagnosed (overwhelming) or the faint of heart. In the end, it's a very encouraging story. Se's have been greatly minimized since 1995. Attitude and fight seem to win out despite some pretty discouraging odds.

I also very much liked Dancing with the Fear (I forget the author).
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  • Squeaker
    Squeaker Member Posts: 87
    edited July 2007
    Hi Shrink! Just cruised past your posting here and thought I'd add the following, although it is really meant for any cancer patient post-treatment. Hope you don't mind me adding this since it's not dealing directly w/treatment.

    Picking Up the Pieces - Moving Forward after Surviving Cancer, by Sherri Magee & Kathy Scalzo. It is a straight forward, well written book about transitions that occur after treatment ends. It also includes "Self Scans" to help judge all aspects of life post tx. This book almost jumped off the shelf into my basket at the bookstore ... a very unique experience since I was looking for a totally different book!! Anyway, I've found this a very productive, forthright and validating read. I'm sure maybe others have suggested this in Moving Beyond Thread?? Just took awhile for me to discover this. Most of what I've felt and experienced over the past 21/2 yrs is covered. Guess I'm not as nuts as I've sometimes wondered!!
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  • shrink
    shrink Member Posts: 936
    edited July 2007

    Thanks for the recommendations. Now that I'm on STD and over the initial shock of my dx (it's not a dream), I read everything I can get my hands on

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  • biondi
    biondi Member Posts: 223
    edited August 2007
    A GREAT BOOK I READ WHILE WAITING FOR A CLASS A MY BREAST CENTER..' GODDESSES DON'T BUY GREEN BANANAS" BY LESLIE DALEY..WILD HAIR PUBLISHING
    IT'S A TOUCHING,AND SOMETIMES HUMOROUS, LOOK AT THE LIVES OF SEVERAL SURVIVORS,WHAT STRENGTH THEY HAVE! GREAT PHOTOS AND STORY ON EACH WOMAN,THEIR FAMILIES AND FRIENDS.. I LOVED THIS BOOK, AND INTEND ON BUYING IT. VERY INSPIRITIONAL. IF THERE IS A POSITIVE SIDE TO BEING DX'D WITH THIS DREADED DISEASE ,BREAST CANCER, THIS BOOK REVEALS IT IN THESE WOMEN'T STORIES..
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  • lesleyDaley123
    lesleyDaley123 Member Posts: 1
    edited October 2007

    I am the author of Goddesses Don't Grenn Bananas.... please chek it out. goddessbook.com



    thanks.



    lesley

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  • kkthom
    kkthom Member Posts: 19
    edited November 2007

    I just finished It's Not About the Hair by Debra Jarvis. Jarvis is a chaplain who works with oncology patients and was diagnosed with bc. I really enjoyed it. I also read Deanna Favre's book, but was a little disappointed with how much she spoke of Brett. I enjoyed it though and love the Packers!

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  • yellowrose
    yellowrose Member Posts: 886
    edited September 2010

    I'm in the middle of "Hanging out with the lab coats" by Wendi Fox Pedicone.  Pretty good.  Wish I had read it back in June but it wasn't out then.  Its a combination of journaling, treatments, etc.  Worth the read if you can find it.  I had to order it and wait 4 weeks.

    Also just started "Voices of Breast Cancer" by the Healing Project.  It's interesting so far.

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  • Joyce121
    Joyce121 Member Posts: 1
    edited October 2008

    My book BREAST CANCER The Little Book of Hope just came out and it is already on Amazon.com, Target.com, at BarnesandNoble.com and many, many others including (amazingly!) Harvard University Bookstore!  May God continue to use it to help other women who are going through breast cancer!

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  • tbird57
    tbird57 Member Posts: 150
    edited October 2008

    I highly recommend "Lopsided.  How having breast cancer can be really distracting. A memoir by Meredith Norton."  Picked it up in the NEW section of my local library.  I loved this book and it had me laughing out loud over and over.  A quick read. The author's wit, intelligence and candor are delightful. 

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  • shrink
    shrink Member Posts: 936
    edited October 2008

    I read that too and loved it.

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  • suemed8749
    suemed8749 Member Posts: 1,151
    edited March 2009

    I just finished "The Middle Place" by Kelly Corrigan. She was 37 when dx with bc, and her dad was dx with bladder cancer soon after. She alternates the chapters between the "present" and her past growing up. I really enjoyed it.

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  • scrappy_survivor
    scrappy_survivor Member Posts: 149
    edited March 2009

    I really liked Nordie's at Noon. It is about 4 women who were young when diagnosed 24, 27, 27, 30. They would meet for lunch at noon at Nordies. It is their story complete with being dxed while preg. having young children, & also planning for a wedding. AMAZING women.

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  • AccidentalTourist
    AccidentalTourist Member Posts: 365
    edited March 2009

    'Your life in Your Hands' by Jane Plant is a book which l found most inspiring as it is written by a woman who survived five breast cancers (last one with mets).  It gave me hope that one can live through this and tought me practical things which made me feel more in control.  'Cancer Vixen' was recommended by someone on this site.  It is done as a comic and it is both touching and funny.  I did not like 'I am not my breast cancer' but that could be because I read it at the wrong time (after diagnosis but before treatment) and it only managed to scare me.

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  • mmm5
    mmm5 Member Posts: 1,470
    edited March 2009

    Just read THE SHACK, one of the best books I ever read, especially if you want a quick inspirational book, though be prepared to cry your eyes out!

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  • lisettemac
    lisettemac Member Posts: 213
    edited March 2009

    I loved "Cancer Vixen."  It's a cartoon book.  It's absolutely spot on and funny too.

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  • PrincessKauai59
    PrincessKauai59 Member Posts: 288
    edited March 2009
    Hi, I recommend, Anticancer: A New Way of Life by David Servan-Schreiber, MD - - very good for post (chemo) therapy diet.
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  • Route53
    Route53 Member Posts: 340
    edited April 2009

    SueMed,

    My wife was just given that book "The Middle Place" yesterday.  To be honest I think it is a book she should read even without cancer. We've also read "This Time's A Charm" and "My Life with Laura"

    Erik (Route53)

    http://route53.wordpress.com

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  • lexislove
    lexislove Member Posts: 2,645
    edited April 2009

    Picking up the Pieces

    By Sherri MaGee

    It's about finishing cancer treatments and being left with all the emotions and fear that comes with a diagnosis. It has actual cancer patients giving their own testimonies. I related to it so much. Excellent book.

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  • lisalisa
    lisalisa Member Posts: 824
    edited April 2009

    saving

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  • karenn
    karenn Member Posts: 35
    edited April 2009

    My sister who works at a bookstore just got me (Yesterday)  A Cup of Comfort  for Breast Cancer Survivors - Inspirating stories of Courage & Triumph, 2008. Edited by
    Colleen Sell and forward by Susan G. Komen for the Cure.      I took this one to bed with me last night and really love it.  Rather than straight cancer biographies they are more vignettes, a day-in-the-life sort of thing. 

    Also,

    Words for the Cure, 2008, Presented by Susan G. Komen for the Cure. 

    This one is a small book of quotes & nature photos, one per-page from famous people/celebrities who have been touched by breast cancer. Nice if you don't want to get into any heavy reading and need some quick inspiration. 

    Also -

    Praying through Cancer-- Set your Heart Free From Fear. A 90-day devotional for woman by Susan Sorensen and Laura Geist.  

    Written from a Christian perspective, these are essays from woman with cancer, not specifically breast cancer, though some are.  A small book, each essay about a 1-1/2 page with a prayer, tips and prayer references.   This one has helped me a lot!!!!

    Also:  If you haven't already heard of Kris Carr's Crazy Sexy Cancer books 1 and 2.  Not specifically for breast cancer, but has a lot of tips in regard to living and dealing with cancer on a daily basis, interviews of cancer suvivors, healthy raw and organic eating, detox, spiritual aspects, as well as dealing with the medical red tape and a lot more.   The second book has pages for journal entries.  Written in a young, hip, right-on-the-pulse girlfriend to girlfriend sassy tone. She sure has a way with words!    

     I'll add more later!   

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  • marejo
    marejo Member Posts: 1,356
    edited April 2009

    Another one that is awesome is called "Grace For Each Hour" by Mary J. Nelson.  It, too, is set up in a devotional foremat and is a wonderful encouragement.  I read it 4 times during my journey.  I highly recommend it.

    Love and Peace,

    Mary Jo

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  • AllieM22
    AllieM22 Member Posts: 464
    edited April 2009

    For both touching, personal anecdotes and GREAT info on diet and other things, Anti-Cancer: A New Way of Life...

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  • hollyann
    hollyann Member Posts: 2,992
    edited April 2009

    For great recipes before during and after chemo treatment days......Eating Well Through Cancer by Holly Clegg and Geral Miletello, MD................I LOVE this book.....My insurance company sent me a copy after my diagnosis......

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  • boconno1
    boconno1 Member Posts: 1
    edited April 2009

    I've seen The Middle Place by Kelly Corrigan mentioned above. Kelly is am amazing author and speaker. If anyone is in the Northern California area, Kelly will be discussing and signing copies of her book at Borders in Pleasant Hill Tues. May 5th at 7:00 p.m. The address is 120 Crescent Blvd. There is also some great videos of her on their web site if you want to learn more about this author.

    http://www.bordersmedia.com/features/video/corrigan.asp

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2009

    Hello everyone,

    I am new on here and wanted to let you know that I am a breast cancer survivor with a recently published first book to tell you about.  It's called My Marmoirs: The True Story of a Head on a Stick (A Year-Long Journey to Beat Breast Cancer) and it is my personal account of being a 32 year old pregnant mother of a 2 year old daughter when diagnosed with bc.  I assure you that, while written with complete honesty, my story is told with a hearty sense of humour and is certainly not a tear-jerker or "downer".  While there is absolutely nothing funny about being diagnosed with breast cancer, my book will show you how I chose to see the humour in life's little ups and downs in spite of living with the dreaded disease.  Feel free to buy it online at www.volumesdirect.com ($25/book with $1 of the sale of each book being donated to the Juravinski Cancer Center) and check out my website www.headonastick.ca for more info.  All the best to you all! Take care. Marcie.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited May 2009

    Lopsided sounds funny...I'm going to use my Chapters gift card to buy it this weekend! If you loved it, you'll probably love My Marmoirs: The True Story of a Head on a Stick (A Year-Long Journey to Beat Breast Cancer)...also laugh-out-loud funny! Happy Reading!

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  • karenn
    karenn Member Posts: 35
    edited June 2009

    Thanks for all the recommendations !  Especially "The Middle Place."  I'm both a bc and bladder cancer survivor.   Lopsided also sounds great!!  As do all the other ones!!  

     This one is another compilation of short stories "The Breast Cancer Book of Strength and Courage" 

     And a great one i found in my surgeons office the other day that is very sardonic and witty - "Cancer Made Me a Shallower Person." also a hand illustrated comic type book.  Funny but also makes you think deeply.    I have ordered it Pronto! 

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  • hollyann
    hollyann Member Posts: 2,992
    edited June 2009

    I loved Cancer Shmancer by Fran Drescher!.....It was hilarious!!....

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  • Renrel
    Renrel Member Posts: 497
    edited July 2009

    Speak the Language of healing: Living with Breast Cancer without going to war.  - Its a book by 4 woman who each are of a different faith and each have a different kind of breast cancer but all are pacafists(sp) who had a problem with the battle cry motif of fighting breast cancer.  I found this work very spritually helpful as I am not a fighter but that does not mean I am weak or that I do not want to live or that I will not be a survivor.  This is a book for those who think that there is a reason for the things that happen in ours lives.

     The Breast Cancer  Husband - Not only great for husbands, it also gives a very good synopsis of the basics of the bc journey.

    Cancer on $5 a day (not includeing chemo) - not about bc but I very well written funny book that is written with a great deal of respect for the horror of cancer since the author is a comedian who watched his son die of one canser before he himself had to fight his own battle.  

    My Grandfather's Blessings and Kitchen Table Wisdom are two books but the same author, short stories full of inspiration that I loves so much I bought copies myself after reading through the ones I got from a lending libary.  The author counsels people dealing with canser and other serious or terminal illnesses and has had serious medical issues of her own for most of her life.

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  • footprintsangel
    footprintsangel Member Posts: 43,890
    edited July 2009

    A Reason for Hope By Micheal S. Barry

    (Gaining Strength for Your Fight Against Cancer)

    The Cancer Conqueror By Greg Anderson

    (The Incredible Journey to Wellness)

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  • janey47
    janey47 Member Posts: 72
    edited July 2009

    Five Lessons I Didn't Learn From Breast Cancer (And One Big One I Did), by Shelley Lewis

    http://www.amazon.com/Lessons-Didnt-Learn-Breast-Cancer/dp/045122390X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1246929159&sr=1-1

    Helped me ENORMOUSLY.  It's another one that is probably good for anyone, with or without breast cancer, or cancer at all, although a few things are pretty specific to bc.   

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