Cancer The Journey from Diagnosis to Empowerment

:	Dr. Paul Anderson
:	Cancer The Journey from Diagnosis to Empowerment
:	Lioncrest Publishing
:	9781544515984
:	1
:	CHF 7.40
:

:	Klinische Fächer
:	English

:	138
:	kein Kopierschutz
:	PC/MAC/eReader/Tablet
:	ePUB

Devastating. There's no other word to describe the feeling when you or someone you love is diagnosed with cancer. On any given day, you might rotate between feelings of disbelief, anger, and grief. You may even feel like you've lost control over your own life. While your diagnosis might raise any number of negative feelings, here's the good news: you don't have to feel lost or confused. In Cancer: The Journey from Diagnosis to Empowerment, Dr. Paul Anderson clearly outlines what you can expect throughout your cancer journey. More importantly, he demonstrates how to cultivate a mental outlook that will help you reach your best outcome. When it comes to healing, mind does matter. Drawing on decades of experience, Dr. Anderson offers practical advice to demystify the healing process, empower patients, and teach loved ones how to provide effective support. Devastation is natural, but remember, your diagnosis isn't the end. It's a beginning.

Chapter 1 1.A Cancer Diagnosis Is Life Changing

How We Deal with It Makes a Difference

“We must be willing to let go of the life we’ve planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us.”

—Joseph Campbell

The Story of Bob and Gia

Gia’s Story

Gia woke one morning deciding she needed to act on the nagging feeling deep within her. For a number of months, she had not felt like herself and inside knew something was wrong. She seemed more and more tired, and the vitamins she was taking to help her energy didn’t seem to be doing anything. She had turnedfifty-seven two months ago and had enjoyed lifelong good health. Her family was healthy, except for one aunt who died of lung cancer after a life of heavy cigarette smoking. As for the rest of the family, not only were they generally healthy, but they were also a positive bunch of people who rarely, if ever, complained about health issues. Gia’s last physical a year ago was “unremarkable,” and her physician seemed happy with her exam and lab tests.

Knowing she at least needed some reassurance about her fatigue, she returned to her physician. They did a brief physical exam and ordered some new labs. To her, it seemed quite normal as far as doctor’s visits go.

The next week, she had herfollow-up visit with the doctor and noticed something about the doctor seemed different. She sat down across from the doctor and asked her, “So how am I?” The doctor was about Gia’s age and had been Gia’s physician for many years. She said to Gia, “We have the lab results, and I spoke with the pathologist at the lab. Gia, it looks like you have a particular form of leukemia.” After she heard the wordleukemia, the rest of what her doctor said seemed fuzzy and slow. All Gia kept thinking was, “Leukemia—well, that’s cancer and I don’t have cancer.” Her thoughts were spinning.

Gia’s doctor knew what was happening. Sadly, this wasn’t the first time she had to have this conversation with a patient. She stopped explaining things and said, “Gia. Gia, it’s OK, and there is