Hope - Help me live: 20 things people with cancer want you to know

Lori Hope writes with an eloquence and authenticity that inspires all her readers. She expertly takes cancer caregivers and survivors on a journey that helps us strengthen ourselves and revive the precious gift of hope. She helps us do so even in the face of cancers many blurts and blunders. If you or a loved one have been touched by cancer, Help Me Live is required reading.

Greg Anderson, author of Cancer: 50 Essential Things to Do, Founder and CEO, Cancer Recovery Foundation Group

Even though I am a twenty-year survivor, I needed to be reminded about what people in the throes of cancer need, and Lori Hopes book is perfect.

Kathy La Tour, Editor-at-Large, Cure magazine

Its a wonderful work that both eloquently and simply reminds us that empathy, humanity, respect, and dignity for each other should never fall victim to cancer. In working over fifteen years as an oncology social worker, it seemed as if Lori Hope had been sitting alongside me catching the rich insights and poignant narratives of our clients and then beautifully crafted Help Me Live to assist the world in truly understanding how one best helps the cancer patient.

Win Boerckel, LCSW, MSW, Director of Social Service, CancerCare of Long Island

Lori Hopes masterful storytelling and clear explanations are invaluable for cancer survivors, helping you understand (and forgive) others hurtful words and actions, and encouraging you to direct family and friends to responses that help. This book is a gift for caregivers and everyone who knows someone who is going though illness.

Wendy Harpham, MD, author of Happiness in a Storm, Diagnosis: Cancer, and Only 10 Seconds to Care: Help and Hope for Busy Clinicians

Lori Hope, who has been through it all, both as a cancer patient and a loving supporter of other cancer patients, offers guidance that is always sensitive and often deeply illuminating. Please, please, read this book!

Barbara Ehrenreich, author of BrightSided: How Positive Thinking Is UnderminingAmerica and Nickel and Dimed

Help Me Live is beautifully written and offers extraordinary pearls of wisdom on love, on hope, on survivorship, on friendshipin the face of a cancer diagnosis. As a survivor herself she takes us on heartfelt journeyand we are stronger and more courageous because of it.

Laurie Fenton Ambrose, President and CEO, Lung Cancer Alliance

Drawing on her experience, those of many others, and that of a number of leading health professionals, Lori provides sensible and sensitive guidelines for helping those with cancer and their families to live better. If you or a loved one is struggling with cancer, dont be without Hope.

David Spiegel, MD, Stanford University, author of Living Beyond Limits

Help Me Live is a deeply moving exploration of the complex range of emotions that arise in the face of illness. Both patients and caregivers can enter their roles with greater acceptance and love from reading the experiences and interviews by Lori Hope.

Susan Halpern, MSW, author of The Etiquette of Illness

Patients with cancer often say to me, Its bad enough to have cancer, but would you BELIEVE what someone said to me the other day? Those expressions are not easily forgotten, when they caused either pain or joy. I really like Loris use of these common expressions as the base for suggesting good etiquette and kind manners in talking to someone who has a serious illness.

Jimmie Holland, MD, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, author of The Human Side of Cancer

The advice, comments, and suggestions contained within Help Me Live are valuable to cancer patients, their families, friends, caregivers, physicians, and therapists as well as any compassionate individual.

Jo Ellen Lezotte, past President, The Caner League, Inc.

This is a book every cancer survivor, as well as those who share our world, need to read. She says the words that none of us wants to say out loud and offers realistic explanations of how we all need to relate to our disease. This book can offer a great deal of comfort to those starting on the path of living with cancer.

Kathryn Joosten, actress, The West Wing, Desperate Housewives, and Scrubs

As a two-time survivor of breast cancer and a journalist, I found Help Me Live to be informative, touching, and even funnyand when it comes to cancer, you need a sense of humor. The author certainly lives up to her name.

Laura Marquez, ABC News correspondent

Always compassionate and pragmatic, Lori gives voice to other survivors who candidly share their insights and experiences. Help Me Live breaks new ground with sections on children and young adults and cultural considerationstruly a wonderful resource for all of us.

Peggy McGuire, Executive Director, Womens Cancer Resource Center

As an oncology nurse with over fourteen years of experience I have learned many truths by listening to my clients. When I read Loris book, I found myself nodding in recognition of many of these truths. She writes exquisitely of the emotions and the roller-coaster ride of a cancer diagnosis and treatment. As a nurse educator, I plan to share this book with my students to try and give them some insight into the common experiences that many cancer patients have, as well as the uncommon ones.

Patricia Reilly, California State University School of Nursing

This book is a gift to anyone who has been touched by cancerand that is most of us. At the core of Help Me Live Lori Hope offers a succinct and strong messageJUST BE THERE. In those three words she offers guidance, strength, and hope and underscores the importance of sharing our stories.

Nancy L. Snyderman, M.D., F.A.C.S., NBC News Chief Medical Editor, Associate Professor Head and Neck Surgery, University of Pennsylvania

Heres the twenty-first thing you should know: This book is invaluable for anyone diagnosed with cancer and for anyone who has a family member or friend battling the disease. Lori Hope, a lung cancer survivor, writes intimately, poignantly, poetically, and humorously as she tells it like it is.

Marc Silver, author of Breast Cancer Husband: Help Your Wife (and Yourself) during Diagnosis, Treatment, and Beyond

As someone who works every day with lung cancer patients, I know the deep wounds that careless wordsincluding the question, Did you smoke?can inflict. Lori Hope shows you how to do the opposite, how to help someone with cancer heal by taking away the blame and stigma. Read this book, cover to cover, and help someone live. I did.

Sheila von Driska, Executive Director, Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation

While many books are available to guide people with cancer and their families through the physical and emotional upheaval of their journey, few are dedicated to how to helpand avoid hurtingothers with our words. In Help Me Live, Lori Hope has created a masterpiece of compelling and heartfelt words of healing that should be required reading for doctors, family, and friends of anyone traversing the cancer landscape.

Regina Vidaver, PhD, Executive Director, The National Lung Cancer Partnership

Lori Hopes refreshingly candid voice cuts a gentle, steady path through confusion and discomfort. Shes a true expert in her field.

Hope Edelman, author of Motherless Daughters

Help Me Live is personal, practical, and heartfelt and makes it easier to navigate the gritty realities of what to say and do if you want to help.