Surviving Cancer Emotionally: Learning How to Heal
This user-friendly guide to surviving a cancer diagnosis and the ensuing treatment will be enormously helpful to patients and their intimates. A consulting psychiatrist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering, Granet provides a wealth of information about many types of cancers and treatments such as surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and bone marrow transplants. But his central focus is the emotional toll of all aspects of the disease and the importance of seeking support from the many available resources to cope successfully. While Granet gives no credence to the theory that particular personality traits contribute to cancer, he does insist that a patient's emotional well-being improves her quality of life. In order to maintain emotional health, he recommends strategies for coping after diagnosis, and during and after treatment (one patient struggles with "the endless waiting" leading up to and following tests and treatments). He addresses the fear of recurrence and of death. Since the needs and preferences of cancer patients differ, he recommends a variety of workable techniques, based on compelling case histories, such as counseling, participation in support groups and a renewed reliance on caretaking by friends and family. He also believes that all patients benefit from acknowledging their difficult emotions rather than blurring them with alcohol or drugs; indeed, in his customarily compassionate, calm manner, readers will sense that he does not turn away from difficult feelings and fears. He does, though, advocate pain medication as an important tool when appropriate. Noting that cancer survivors often gain deeper spiritual values and emotional maturity, the author sees the possibility of strength and grace where people often expect humiliation and dysfunction.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.