A Survivor's Guide To Breast Cancer

This book is a must read for students of medicine, psychology, counseling, social work, and health related fields! Dr. Chang provides insightful and educated information concerning helpful and harmful behaviors of helping professionals. Her description of her cancer treatment was detailed and realistic. I could not put the book down! Dr. Chang's emotions and behaviors during various stages of her treatment were very similar to my experience undergoing treatment for colon cancer. I think that this book will give the average population an awareness of what it is like to have cancer!

Dr. Chang's book A Survivor's Guide to Breast Cancer is a pehonmenal read. For the newly diagnosed, it can prepare and educate the patient and those who support her. for those in the midst of treatment, this book will help confirm and validate a patient's emotional and physiological experiences. The patient that has completed active treatment will be able to use Dr. Chang's book as an adjunct to therapy, to help process and bring to closure the ordeal she has been through. A patient's family members, friends, and even treatment team would benefit from this candid book. It is through Dr. Chang's selfless and uninhibited sharing that any one interested, will come to know "first hand" what it's like to have breat cancer. Dr. Chang leaves nothing out - from resources to practical suggestions, to coping strategies including the value of humor. It's a must read for breast cancer patients and anyone that works with them.

Dr. Alice Chang has written an incredibly moving account of her own bout with breast cancer. The book is truly an inspiration! The parts I like best include first, the conversational tone. Second, Alice models ideal patient behaviour. I'm taking this book with me next time I visit my physician. Third, she's very methodical in what she reports. I never doubted the accuracy of her word. Fourth, I really like the photographs. At first I thought the idea was kind of hokey, but once I looked at them, I quickly changed my mind. Last, there is a wonderful resource guide for anyone dealing with cancer, either personally or for a loved one. Alice, thank you so much for your more than wonderful work!

The finest book of its type.It says what needs to be said and usually is not.The book is easy reading and very comprehensive. Breast cancer affects many of our lives and here is a discussion in language that everyone will find of great value.

Alice and I have been good friends for twenty years. I went through the breast cancer experience with her, although from a long distance. I thought I understood what she was feeling during that time. However, from reading her book, I can now see that I truly only understood part of what was going on. I didn't understand how frightened she was, nor did I have any idea of just how upsetting it was for her to go through the initial diagnosis and then the treatments. Her reluctance to share all of the details with me may have been because of her generosity in protecting MY feelings and emotions and/or her inability to be verbal at that point in time about a very emotional experience. If I would have had a book that described some of these deeper feelings to me, I would have understood more about what many women face and could have been more supportive to her during that time. Alice's voice comes through her book as authentic, honest and vulnerable. I liked the mixing of the autobiography with a self-help book. The many pictures enhance the book's genuineness--there are pictures of the doctors, documentation of Alice's process and scars plus photos of items that are either helpful or humorous. The book has a very personal feel-- just like talking with my good friend. Once I started reading it, I had trouble putting it down! If I had breast cancer or had a friend or family member that had been diagnosed, I would find Alice's account of the process very helpful and her explanations of the psychological issues very soothing and supportive. In addition to the vivid coverage of her diagnosis and treatment, Alice steps back from her patient role and assumes the role of psychologist, offering tools and methods for coping, accepting and changing one's sometimes debilitating ways of dealing with challenges. I appreciated the way she addressed the varied avenues that people have for healing themselves.Congratulations to Alice for the courage it took to write this revealing book. I think it will be of great benefit, not only to the patient herself, but also to husbands, family, and friends of those who are facing breast cancer--or possibly any cancer.