Just Get Me Through This! - Revised and Updated A Practical Guide to Coping with Breast Cancer

by Cohen, Deborah A.; Gelfand, M.D., Robert M.

• ISBN13: 9780758269539
• ISBN10: 0758269536
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-09-01
• Publisher: Kensington

Summary

Written in a unique "girlfriend-to-girlfriend" style, this book offers warm, reassuring and practical advice for surviving breast cancer from someone who as there.

Author Biography

Like your friend, sister, daughter, coworker or neighbor, Deborah A. Cohen was going about her life as a young and healthy woman until she was unexpectedly struck with a diagnosis of breast cancer. A graduate of Harvard Business School and Smith College, she is a marketing director for the professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. In addition to her “day job,” she is active in several breast cancer advocacy efforts, including “Climb for the Cure,” a multi-million dollar mountain climbing fundraiser, and the Breast Cancer Coalition’s Leadership Education and Advocacy Development Program. Originally from Milwaukee, WI, she currently resides in Rowayton, CT and New York City.

Robert M. Gelfand, M.D., is an oncologist with a private practice in New York City. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Weill-Cornell Medical Center and at New York Presbyterian Hospital, where he also teaches. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and his medical degree from the State University of New York at Brooklyn. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital and a fellowship in hematology and oncology at The New York Hospital-Cornell University Medical Center. Dr. Gelfand is married and has three daughters.

Table of Contents

A Note from the Authors	p. ix
Acknowledgments	p. x
Foreword	p. xii
Foreword	p. xiv
Introduction	p. xv
The Diagnosis
Managing the News	p. 3
Comprehending and Communicating the News: An Unexpected Tidal Wave	p. 3
Reacting to the News: It's All in Your Attitude	p. 13
Spreading the News: Exposing Yourself to the World	p. 18
Swinging into Action	p. 31
Gathering Information: Becoming an Instant Expert	p. 32
Establishing Support and Coping Mechanisms	p. 46
Building Your Health Care Team: A Critical Element in Winning This Game	p. 56
Rules of the Road for Family, Friends, and Other Participants	p. 65
Surgery
Deciding on Surgery	p. 71
Evaluating Your Options: The Best Results for You	p. 72
Financial and Insurance Implications: Not What You Need Right Now	p. 82
Undergoing Surgery	p. 87
The Hospital Visit	p. 87
Recovering from Surgery	p. 93
The Quick Road to Recovery	p. 94
Long-Term Implications: Daily Reminders	p. 101
Surgery Results: Adding to the Information Base	p. 105
Rules of the Road for Family, Friends, and Other Participants	p. 112
Treatment
Deciphering Treatment Alternatives	p. 117
Chemotherapy and Radiation: The Theory behind Each	p. 117
Tamoxifen: The Original Hormone Option	p. 125
Aromatase Inhibitors: The Other Hormonal Option	p. 128
Managing Treatments: Chemotherapy and Radiation	p. 131
Managing the Process of Chemotherapy Treatments	p. 131
Managing Physical Side Effects: Head-to-Toe Advice	p. 139
Managing the Process of Radiation Treatments	p. 168
Managing Physical Side Effects: Local Area Advice	p. 174
Balancing Work	p. 181
Rules of the Road for Family, Friends, and Other Participants	p. 187
Getting Back to Life
Ending Treatment	p. 193
Leaving the Comfort of Your Regimen	p. 193
Five-Year Follow-Up Visits: What to Expect	p. 196
Longer-Term Issues: The Aftermath	p. 203
Transitioning Back to ôNormalö	p. 207
Maintaining a Healthy Lifestyle: The long-Term Outlook	p. 215
Nutrition: Looking at Food in an Entirely Different Way	p. 215
Alternative Medicine: It Really Can Help	p. 225
Rules of the Road for Family, Friends, and Other Participants	p. 237
Some Parting Thoughte	p. 241
Index	p. 247
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