Examining Myself: One Woman's Story of Breast Cancer Treatment and Recovery [Paperback]

Musa Mayer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 1994

When Musa Mayer's breast cancer was first diagnosed, none of the accounts she read fully addressed what, to her, was the most important aspect - the human, psychological dimensions of the illness and recovery. In this memoir for sufferers, as well as well as their families and friends, she chronicles her experience of several years with cancer, from biopsy and diagnosis to mastectomy, chemotherapy and reconstructive surgery. She describes coping with fears of recurrence and death, evaluating treatment options, dealing effectively with the medical establishment, and seeking personal support.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In addition to a detailed account of her medical and reconstructive surgery for breast cancer, mental health counselor Mayer ( Night Studio ) demonstrates the psychological and literary insight which helped her to survive her trials. The author claims that extensive reading about cancer as well as a women's support group helped her to overcome her fears, self-pity, despair at conflicting professional opinions, feelings of rage and "alienation from the normal healthy world." Above all, she refused to believe that her suffering had no purpose. She recalls how a spiritually inspiring trip to Nepal and Tibet helped to heal her psychic wounds. Now, five years after surgery, Mayer concludes with an encouraging report on recent advances in chemotherapy.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

With breast cancer striking one out of every eight women, it's no wonder that there is a wave of new books on this topic. Mayer's work joins recent titles such as Joyce Wadler's My Breast ( LJ 9/1/92), Juliet Wittman's Breast Cancer Journal ( LJ 3/1/93), Yashar Hirshaut and Peter Pressman's Breast Cancer: The Complete Guide ( LJ 8/92), and Paul Kuehen's Breast Care Options for the 1990's ( LJ 8/91). Mayer, an author ( Night Studio: A Memoir of Philip Guston by His Daughter , Knopf, 1988) who is also a cancer survivor, writes with candor about her disease, stressing the psychological aspects of illness and recovery. In analyzing all aspects of breast cancer, from biopsy through reconstructive surgery, she offers a personal and highly articulate slant. Highly recommended. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the publisher is donating part of the proceeds from this book to the National Breast Cancer Coalition.--Ed.
- Janet Coggan, Univ. of Florida Libs., Gainesville
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 180 pages
• Publisher: Faber & Faber (October 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0571198457
• ISBN-13: 978-0571198450
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,024,011 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How cancer can change you, February 9, 2001

By 

amazonian goddess (Pitman, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Examining Myself: One Woman's Story of Breast Cancer Treatment and Recovery (Paperback)

When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer, I wolfed down this book, for it reflected back to me my own feelings---anxiety, intense loneliness, wild uncertainty, fear of the disease and fear of the treatment for the disease, the weeks and weeks of living in that strange land of chemo and exhaustion---and also the "good" part of learning that I had a life-threatening illness: the sudden and sharp clarity of the value of life itself, the quantum leap in perspective, finding the fortitude to endure, and being supported by the wonderful travelers in the treacherous land of cancer.

After treatment, I read the book again, slowly, and discovered even more--not about treatment choices and pathology, but about growing in strength and knowledge through true, deep self-examination. The author is at times frightened,angry, disgruntled, searching, tired, relieved, elated and always honest. The writing is precise and engaging, the author always going a little deeper than most other writers to get to the truth of her experiences---and therefore finding what is common to us all.

I have recently discovered that the author donates all the profits from her books on cancer to cancer research and treatment.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How cancer can change you, February 9, 2001

By 

amazonian goddess (Pitman, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Examining Myself: One Woman's Story of Breast Cancer Treatment and Recovery (Paperback)

When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer, I wolfed down this book, for it reflected back to me my own feelings---anxiety, intense loneliness, wild uncertainty, fear of the disease and fear of the treatment for the disease, the weeks and weeks of living in that strange land of chemo and exhaustion---and also the "good" part of learning that I had a life-threatening illness: the sudden and sharp clarity of the value of life itself, the quantum leap in perspective, finding the fortitude to endure, and being supported by the wonderful travelers in the treacherous land of cancer.

After treatment, I read the book again, slowly, and discovered even more--not about treatment choices and pathology, but about growing in strength and knowledge through true, deep self-examination. The author is at times frightened,angry, disgruntled, searching, tired, relieved, elated and always honest. The writing is precise and engaging, the author always going a little deeper than most other writers to get to the truth of her experiences---and therefore finding what is common to us all.

I have recently discovered that the author donates all the profits from her books on cancer to cancer research and treatment.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is indispensable for women with breast cancer., October 15, 1997

By 

Judy E. Coughlin "Loudoun reader" (Leesburg, VA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Examining Myself: One Woman's Story of Breast Cancer Treatment and Recovery (Paperback)

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so the reminders are everywhere - it's practically trendy. Even Murphy Brown has it. Almost exactly one year ago, I had a mastectomy, and I checked Musa Mayer's book out of the library along with many other volumes on breast cancer. As I read it, I kept thinking, "This is me," and "I could have written this book!" She describes diagnosis, surgery, chemotherapy, and recovery vividly and convincingly. I was relieved to find out that she even scanned the newspaper's obituary columns, just as I did, in a morbid search for women who had died young of cancer. She went through the fear, uncertainty, self-blame, depression, and shifts in relationships that most women with breast cancer experience, as I know now. She assuaged her anxiety by seeking information; she dabbled in alternative healing methods; essentially she just went forward with her life on a new basis. As soon as I returned the library book I bought a copy of Examining Myself, to re-read and le