Barbara Tako - Cancer Survivorship Coping Tools--Well Get you Through This: Tools for Cancers Emotional Pain From a Melanoma and Breast Cancer Survivor

For any woman who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, information is vital. But more importantly, it needs to be good information. Barbs book more than qualifies!

Julie Edstrom, breast cancer survivor, support group facilitator and spiritual director

Mrs. Barbara Tako tells her compelling and poignant real-life journey as she navigates the challenging waters of breast cancer and her life that endures through it all. Well-written. Well-articulated. Easy to read and understand.

Reading this book will be a comfort and encouragement to anyone associated with breast cancer or any other life-threatening disease; whether it be patient, caregiver, family, friends and/or pre-, during, or post-journey.

Throughout the book, Mrs. Tako refers to herself as a breast cancer survivor. God calls her more than a conqueror. With the tools and insights in this book, you can be more than a conqueror too.

Greg McClain, retired John Deere manager; caregiver for breast and GIST cancer patient for over 12 years

This is a heartfelt and personal account of a patients walk through breast cancer. Although at times raw, it reveals the triumph of hope and love over trauma and uncertainty. It is full of good advice about education, support groups, coping, and appreciating all the good in life, and will serve as a valuable resource for any newly diagnosed breast cancer (or any cancer) patient.

Dr. Candy Abramson Corey, MD, oncologist and breast cancer survivor

A must-read for those challenged with breast cancer, seeking ideas and inspiration on how to cope with worries accompanying thoughts of surviving today and living tomorrow.

Karmen Mattsen, three-time cancer survivor (Hodgkins lymphoma, breast, skin)

The author takes us on a reluctant journey. The reader is immersed in the realities and ravages of surgery and chemotherapy. Modern medical therapy offers hope, but always against a background of fear and uncertainty. In the mists of this battleground, the Soul exerts its instinct for freedom. We have choices. Our choices define us, give us clarity, and purpose. Slyly, the author has taken us on a spiritual journey. She exhorts us to make our own journey, and we close the book grateful she has shared hers.

Dr. Kevin Hallman, MD, obstetrician and gynecologist

Sound, practical advice, delivered in a conversation-over-coffee style, for people dealing with any aspect of a breast cancer diagnosis a book filled with much-needed information.

Anne Johnson, breast cancer survivor since Fall, 1996

First published by Ayni Books, 2015

Ayni Books is an imprint of John Hunt Publishing Ltd., Laurel House, Station Approach,

Alresford, Hants, SO24 9JH, UK

www.johnhuntpublishing.com

www.ayni-books.com

For distributor details and how to order please visit the Ordering section on our website.

Text copyright: Barbara Tako 2014

ISBN: 978 1 78279 775 3

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014952388

All rights reserved. Except for brief quotations in critical articles or reviews, no part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission from the publishers.

The rights of Barbara Tako as author have been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

Design: Lee Nash

Printed and bound by CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon, CR0 4YY

We operate a distinctive and ethical publishing philosophy in all areas of our business, from our global network of authors to production and worldwide distribution.

Dedicated to

God

Daniel, Emily, and Sarah

All cancer patientspast, present, and future

All cancer caregiverspast, present, and future

I am deeply thankful for the support of everyone who helped make this book happen. Above all, I am grateful to a merciful God who was always there with me on my cancer journey.

Special thanks to my friend and publicist Trish Stevens at Ascot Media who supported and encouraged me in every way humanly possible throughout my cancer journey and throughout the writing of this book. Also, many thanks to John Hunt and the rest of the awesome staff at John Hunt Publishing.

Thank you, fellow members of my local breast cancer support group, and all the fellow survivors who helped me. You know who you are! I give extra thanks to Pat Benson for your wonderful insights. I am especially grateful for the support and encouragement of my medical oncology team, my oncology psychotherapist Sandi Tazelaar, my breast cancer support group leader Julie Edstrom, and my very supportive and patient friends Kate Spencer, Anne Johnson, Laura Hutton, Arvilla Cadwell, Jackie and Steve Dimmick, Karmen and Paul Mattsen, Greg McClain, Paulette Henderson, Pam Marta, Jennifer and Jason Lassner, Barb Nevin, Rachel Hanson, Rob and Ike Allickson, and my pastors, Pastor Sue Schoon and Pastor James Woodruff. You all are the best.

Without the love of my family, including David and Anne Seltzer, George and Lucille Tako, Jim Tako, Jan Tako and Nicole Tako, and Tracy Morgan, this book might never have existed. Thank you, dear family!

Last, but not least, I deeply thank my husband Dan and my daughters Emily and Sarah. Your unending love, patience, and support helped me through my cancer journey and inspired me to write this book.

Disclaimer

The author did her best to ensure the accuracy of the quotations, websites, books, and resources mentioned in the text. She assumes no liability, expressed or implied, for any misrepresentations, errors or omissions herein or for any actions taken by readers as a result of the contents of this book.

The author is a writer and a melanoma and breast cancer patient. She assumes no liability for medical or psychiatric advice, expressed or implied herein. For all medical and mental health matters, she refers all readers to their medical and mental health professional providers.

Its a journey no one wants to take. A cancer diagnosis propels a person and their family into an unknown world of threshold experiences, intense emotions and a complex system called health care. Its something I see every day in my work as an oncology psychotherapist. There is initially disbelief and shock that clouds ones rational thinking at a time when the need for critical thinking and decision-making is of utmost importance. This book, Cancer Survivorship Coping Tools: Well get you through this, is a life preserver for those experiencing a cancer diagnosis.

Barbara Tako, a cancer survivor, lends her experiences into a well-thought-out guide to managing a persons medical care, a myriad of emotions, and family/friend/acquaintances relationships. Her wisdom shines as she leads a person in cutting through the chaos of difficult decisions, and her skill at organizing a framework for sorting through fear, anxiety, sadness and hope is a godsend at such a trying time.

Barbara Tako shares with us her journal entries that people can identify with immediately regarding the rollercoaster effect of the diagnosis, treatment and after-treatment phase of having cancer. She offers hope and an aspect of joy that one feels, upon the diagnosis, has left them for good. Her practical tips and style of writing create an ease in reading that can be translated into regaining emotional resilience with some simplicity.