Living in the Lightning: A Cancer Journal (Paperback)

by Natalie Robins (Author) "Late this afternoon I was diagnosed with cancer..." (more)
Key Phrases: lower back tumor, chemo room, oncology department, Michael Grossbard, New Jersey, The Girl Who Died Twice (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The story of the author's struggle to live with a diagnosis of cancer. Robins writes frankly of her personal journey of learning to live with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. She asks questions all of us might when faced with such appalling news: how should I tell by mother?; will my husband re-marry after I die?; what should I wear to chemotherapy?; what would happen if I jumped off the table during radiation treatment?; can I ever forget I have cancer?

From the Back Cover
"November 27, 1995: Late this afternoon I was diagnosed with cancer. I learned that I had a form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma called 'malt,' for mucous-associated lymphoid tissue.' My oncologist, J. Gregory Mears, M.D., said that mine 'was not a bad story,' because my tumors were 'indolent,' slow-growing. Not a bad story? Doesn't just about everyone know that non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma is incurable? I have incurable cancer." So begins Natalie Robin's journal, first serialized in Self magazine, now compiled and expanded in Living in the Lightning. Robins writes frankly, with grace and realism, of her personal journey of learning to live with cancer. Her candid observations, reactions, and emotions throughout her diagnosis and treatment hit home, as she asks questions all of us might when faced with such appalling news:
* How should I tell my mother?
* Will my husband remarry after I die?
* What should I wear to chemotherapy?
* What would happen if I jumped off the table during radiation treatment?
* Can I ever forget I have cancer?

Robins's warm and sincerely uplifting portrait of quiet courage will give encouragement to the millions of people with cancer, and the millions more who love them.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 103 pages
• Publisher: Rutgers University Press; 1 edition (May 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813526655
• ISBN-13: 978-0813526652
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,629,514 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Light Yet Meaningful, September 10, 2006

By	Marlene (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews

I read this book a few days after my doctor told me he was "very concerned" I may have a very rare and aggressive form of cancer. I found the easy style of the book was something I definitely needed while my mind was racing in a million directions. I loved that I could identify with the author on silly things like what to wear to my next doctor's appointment. The lightness yet meaningful style of the book helps in a time when so much is going on around you.