What Helped Get Me Through: Cancer Survivors Share Wisdom and Hope [Paperback]

Julie K. Silver (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1604430044 | ISBN-13: 978-1604430042 | Publication Date: October 1, 2008 | Edition: 1

This new book, edited by a breast cancer survivor, succinctly relates the experiences, both practical and sensitive, of hundreds of cancer survivors—including celebrities such as Lance Armstrong, Carly Simon, and Scott Hamilton—who candidly relate what helped get them through every aspect of the cancer journey. The wisdom and hope offered in this book will be invaluable to newly diagnosed patients and their families, as well as their doctors and caregivers.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In her mid 30s, Silver (Super Healing), an oncology rehab specialist, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Drawing on her experiences, Silver questioned survey participants on critical aspects of care and healing (healthcare providers, friends, family, spirituality, body image, etc.). Mainly from the U.S., respondents include celebrities (Carly Simon, Lance Armstrong and Sen. Ed. Brooke among them) and represent a broad range of ages, backgrounds and varieties of cancer. Silver has slotted responses into sections addressing such concerns as balancing work and family, making healthy lifestyle changes, helping children to cope with a parent's illness, asking for help and relieving stress, and she offers advice in lists and sidebars. While narrative connections between participants' comments would have provided greater continuity, this volume-a bird's-eye-view into the minds and hearts of cancer survivors-is an invaluable resource for those who will have cancer or treat, live or work with a cancer patient.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

Julie K. Silver, MD, is an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. She is the author of Post-Polio Syndrome—A Guide for Polio Survivors and Their Families, Life After Stroke: Recovering Your Health and Preventing Another Stroke, and After Cancer Treatment: Heal Faster, Better, Stronger, and has written dozens of magazine and newspaper articles and authored numerous research publications. She frequently lectures to both healthcare professionals and the public on health-related issues, and has also given hundreds of print interviews and numerous radio and television interviews including, The Early Show, ABC News Now, AARP Radio, NPR radio, USA Today, and many others.

Product Details

• Paperback: 378 pages
• Publisher: American Cancer Society; 1 edition (October 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1604430044
• ISBN-13: 978-1604430042
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.9 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #88,581 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #3 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Aging > Cancer > Lung Cancer
  • #3 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Aging > Cancer > Lymphatic
  • #6 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Aging > Cancer > Colorectal

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Been there, done that!, December 15, 2008

By 

DJG better half "DJG better half" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Helped Get Me Through: Cancer Survivors Share Wisdom and Hope (Paperback)

I have had close relatives with cancer and I am a cancer survivor. I wish I had this book when my father and SIL had cancer because I didn't know exactly how to help. This is the perfect book for friends and family members who want to help but don't know how. I am one of the patients often quoted in the book so I know these comments come from the heart of the survivors who wrote them. I appreciate seeing my experience from the reader's vantage point. I also enjoyed hearing about what got other people through. None of us could have done it alone. I wish there was such a book for kids and teenagers with cancer. There needs are different and I find myself wondering how to help them uniquely because I am a school nurse. I currently have a student undergoing chemo for testicular cancer. We can relate in general but he needs kids his own age to be there and to talk to. Excellent resource. I recommend it for every place of worship, library, doctor's office and as a personal resource if you love someone with cancer.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What Helped Get Me Through My Cancer, October 30, 2008

By 

K. Jadon - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What Helped Get Me Through: Cancer Survivors Share Wisdom and Hope (Paperback)

From: www.BasilAndSpice.com
Author & Book Views On A Healthy Life!

A FirstLook Feature

Book Review: What Helped Get Me Through (American Cancer Society, 2008) by Julie K. Silver, M.D.

Edited by the award winning author, Julie K. Silver, herself a breast cancer survivor, the objective of What Helped Get Me Through is to provide stories, memories, and personal histories in the form of wisdom and hope by cancer survivors to others living with cancer. Dr. Silver surveyed hundreds of cancer survivors from around the world and interviewed medical experts and cancer leaders during her research for What Helped Me Get Through.

What Helped Get Me Through offers guidance, emotional support, and advice to those just diagnosed with cancer and those undergoing treatment. Cancer survivors have been in the same situation, and speak their own words about survival, pointing out the small details to the major discussions of the emotional, physical, and spiritual aspects of having the disease.

What Helped Me Get Through from cover to cover:

* How to manage fear, uncertainty, and speak with your young children. (Dr. Silver had to do this herself.)
* How to explore and decide upon treatment options.
* How to take care of yourself, spiritually, physically, and emotionally.
* How to interact with your family and friends, allowing them to make a difference.
* What would have helped, but was too difficult to ask for.
* What could have helped at the time of diagnosis.

Dr. Silver also has included short lists which are invaluable:

* 5 Things You Should tell Your Partner Who Has Cancer
* 5 Things To Tell Your Children About Your Cancer
* 5 Things For a Friend To Do
* 5 Things Your Oncologist Should Tell You
* 10 Tips to Help Children and Families

A personal sample: "I was my own worst enemy, and I found myself living on the computer, looking for the worst news possible. I cured that by going to work...it really helped the depression and getting back into a normal life.--Kathie, nurse and social worker, diagnosed with kidney cancer at age 53 in 2005 in Kingston, New York."

There are many survivors who participated in What Helped Get Me Through, including famous names, that are out on the front lines supporting cancer research today. You'll recognize Lance Armstrong, Carly Simon, Scott Hamilton, Sharon Osbourne, Susan Vreeland, Elyse Caplan, retired Senator Edward W. Brooke, Lynn Eib, Hester Hill Schnipper, among many many others. Cancer knows no limits of age, race, gender, nor economic position. We are all affected, as What Helped Get Me Through testifies to.

On a personal note, I walked into the emergency room to hear my own father's diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. We needed this book then. What Helped Me Get Through will encourage many families through diagnosis and treatment, offering hope. Sometimes those days are dark, but there is always hope.

BackStory Byte: Julie K. Silver, M.D. is celebrating her fifth year of breast cancer survivorship. She is also the author of more than a dozen books, including: After Cancer Treatment: Heal Faster, Better, Stronger (Johns Hopkins Press), chosen by Library Journal as a top twenty health book (2006) Life After Stroke (Johns Hopkins Press),and Super Healing (Rodale). Dr. Silver has received the American Cancer Society's prestigious Lane Adams Quality of Life award (2006) because she of her dedication to cancer care survivorship. Dr. Silver is an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and a practicing physiatrist in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and on the medical staff at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Silver also holds the title of Chief Editor of Books at Harvard Health Publications.

The American Cancer Society helps people facing cancer get through their treatment and recovery by providing a range of free and confidential programs and services for patients and caregivers, which help people learn about their disease and treatment options, receive everyday help for dealing with cancer challenges, and connect with others for emotional support.

5 Stars

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A collection of wit and wisdom from those who have defeated one of life's greatest challenge, January 12, 2009

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Helped Get Me Through: Cancer Survivors Share Wisdom and Hope (Paperback)

Cancer is nothing one can get through without learning a valuable life lesson. "What Helped Get Me Through: Cancer Survivors Share Wisdom and Hope" is a collection of wit and wisdom from those who have defeated one of life's greatest challenges in cancer. With advice ranging from the most devastating diagnosis, to the long, grueling fight one must face, to final recovery and much more, "What Helped Get Me Through" is an absolute must for anyone facing this monster or have relatives who have to fight the fight.