My Mother's Breast: Daughters Face Their Mothers' Cancer [Paperback]

Laurie Tarkan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1999

My Mother's Breast focuses on the unique psychological needs of women who must deal with the pain and devastation of their mother's illness while repressing their fears for their own health. By sharing stories of strength and courage, this book provides long-overdue support for the loved ones of breast cancer patients.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

When a woman finds out her mother has breast cancer, her world becomes a tornado, whirling with fears of her mother's disfigurement, pain, and death, and the panic and certainty that she will be next to develop the disease. Award-winning journalist Laurie Tarkan (whose mother died of a liver disorder when Tarkan was 11 years old) interviewed many women whose mothers had breast cancer. She chose 16 daughters' stories for My Mother's Breast, sprinkling each narrative with her commentary and that of psychologists.

Many of the mother-daughter stories are love stories, but some are not. Felicia's mother told her, "One reason I have breast cancer is because you kicked my breasts when you were little." Kathie's mother hid from her the fact that she was dying, so Kathie was never able to say goodbye. Some of the daughters who are their mother's support system can't find support themselves, like Jill: "My mother had breast cancer, my father was a wreck, my brother [was] an alcoholic, and my grandmother was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. My boyfriend was giving me problems on top of that." Not all the daughters are models of virtue and emotional stability, either: 17-year-old Stacy was a self-destructive rebel even through her mother's chemotherapy; 13-year-old Julie became bulimic.

Both the mothers and the daughters run the gamut of personalities and emotions. If you have a mother with breast cancer, you'll understand that you're not alone with your fears and concerns, and these real-life examples will enhance your understanding of your experience. --Joan Price

From Publishers Weekly

Tarkan, a health and medical writer, describes the emotional turmoil and special concerns of daughters whose mothers have been diagnosed with breast cancer, drawing upon the personal reflections of those same women. According to Tarkan, the way daughters are affected by their mothers' breast cancer is as varied as the women themselves. While some of these daughters deal with their mother's cancer with optimism and hope, others fall into a deep depression, and several go so far as to avoid their mothers altogether. Many daughters become overly concerned about their own mortality, knowing that they are at a higher risk for developing the disease. Mothers describe their own hopes, fears and concerns about their daughters, who, most often, have cared for them during the course of their disease. To help these daughters help themselves, Tarkan gives information culled from cancer experts and other health-care professionals on the real risks associated with breast cancer and reducing that risk, when possible. Whatever the individual approach to therapy, Tarkan highly recommends participation in support groups. A sensitive discussion on whether daughters should be genetically tested for breast cancer and an emphasis on the need to take emotional as well as physical care of oneself makes this important reading for daughters as well as their families and friends. Also useful are Tarkan's glossary of procedures, terms used when dealing with breast cancer and frequently used chemotherapeutics, plus an extensive resource section.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing; 1 edition (April 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878332278
• ISBN-13: 978-0878332274
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,538,314 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I think it is an extremely important book, November 9, 1999

By 

Valerie Hodge-Williams (Baltimore, Maryland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Mother's Breast: Daughters Face Their Mothers' Cancer (Paperback)

I read it almost in one sitting. I literally could not put it down. The book was extremely well written and very easy to read. Its content was powerful, honest and informative. It moved with grace from one chapter to the next and never became bogged down in detail or data. From the perspective of a mother who has had breast cancer, it was painful to see, in black and white, so many of the issues that my daughters have had to face. I think any mother and daughter who have had an experience with prolonged and serious illness of the mother, would greatly benefit from reading your book. In fact, I was so impressed with its content that I am going to buy three extra copies and give one to each of my girls. I think it will help them to better understand their experiences, their feelings, and their behaviors during my many illnesses. I hope it will help them with the confusion, rage and guilt that I know has often assailed them. From the perspective of a breast cancer survivor, who was also a daughter, niece and cousin of women with ovarian cancer, I thought your final chapters contained incredibly important information. I know they would have helped me fifteen years ago. I would recommend it, and will do so, to anyone.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars gift to my two daughters, March 29, 2000

By 

Carolyn Cutrell "rene'" (Harper Woods, Mi) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: My Mother's Breast: Daughters Face Their Mothers' Cancer (Paperback)

My daughters were both happy to read their copy of the book. Each took with them different portions that were helpful. My oldest daughter plans on giving the book to one of her students who is now 15 and going through a similar experience with her mother. My youngest, said she was greatly helped by the book. Thank you so much. Carolyn

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling and well researched; a great resource, July 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: My Mother's Breast: Daughters Face Their Mothers' Cancer (Paperback)

Laurie Tarkan's book brings attention to a serious but rarely discussed issue--the unique experience of women whose mothers develop breast cancer. These women often have to cope with the loss of one of their most significant relationships at a young age as well as the knowledge that they may also be at increased risk for breast cancer. Through compelling personal stories of daughters of women with breast cancer, Laurie Tarkan's book explores the emotional and medical repercussions with intelligence and sensitivity. The book provides expert information to help these women assess their breast cancer risk and informs them of the most up-to-date options for reducing their risk. Women whose mothers have had breast cancer (and others who've had to cope with a serious loss in their lives) will find real help in dealing with their often overwhelming feelings.