Julie Silver - What Helped Get Me Through: Cancer Survivors Share Wisdom and Hope

I n addition to the people whom I have acknowledged in the Preface, Id like to thank Rebecca Teaff for her excellent editorial guidance throughout this project and Amy Rovere for her editorial support. I am also grateful to Chuck Westbrook who oversees the books program at the American Cancer Society, Vanika Jordan who has handled many production tasks, Jill Russell who provided editorial assistance, and to Candace Magee and Leslie Wolfe Arista whose excellent efforts in public relations have made it possible for many survivors and their friends and families to learn about this book.

Ross Zafonte, DO, chair of the department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School, has been consistently supportive of my academic work. My academic assistant, Mary Alice Hanford, helped keep track of the participants surveys and other information. It is an honor to work with my colleagues at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and I am particularly grateful to those who offered assistance with this guide in the form of expert advice for readers.

Selma Schimmel from Vital Options International was enormously helpful in providing me with suggestions and contact information for the many experts who have contributed to this book.

Of course, this guide would not be possible without the generosity of so many cancer survivors who were willing to fill out surveys and share with readers what really helped get them through this difficult experience. I am grateful to all of them and want them to know how powerful their words will be in providing hope and inspiration for thousands of people.

Finally, I am in debt to my family, friends, and colleagues for their amazing support and help when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003.

Adams, Heidi 125

Armstrong, Lance 55, 77, 213

Blum, Diane 242

Brinker, Nancy 89, 157, 279

Brooke, Edward W. 81

Caban, Mabel 289

Caplan, Elyse 20, 106, 156, 288

Eib, Lynn 193

Gafni, Ramy 257

Ganz, Patricia 304

Grose, Amy 232233

Hahn, Karin 86

Hamilton, Scott 272

Harpham, Wendy S. 99

Hilliard, Anita Joy 135, 149

Hobson, Alan 260261, 311

Hutchison, Nancy A. 290

Johnson, David 33

LaTour, Kathy 296

Lockaby, Jay 174

Mardigan, Tara 143

Mazan, Steve 167

Miller, Ken 218

Moddelmog, Hala 38, 111, 264

Music, Terry 21, 290, 312, 332

Nathanson, David 89

OReilly, Mary Beth 238

Osbourne, Sharon 7, 58, 82, 285, 308

Paul, Kelly 207

Perlis, Cynthia 168

Piscopo, Joe 329 Planchon, Claude-Alain 216

Pories, Susan 19, 51, 223

Rauch, Paula 112

Reno, Jamie 16, 37, 224, 323

Richer, Alice 138

Runowicz, Carolyn 210, 317

Schimmel, Selma 315

Schnipper, Hester Hill 249

Schoenthaler, Robin 8

Shilling, Shonda 275

Shin, Ki Y. 152

Shipp, Laura 61

Siegel, Bernie 34

Simon, Carly 15, 46

Sommer, Karen 164

Stovall, Ellen 28, 281, 326

Tuthill, Kelley 53

Verbeek, Jos 120

Vreeland, Susan 12, 72, 198

Warrick, Heather 173, 278

Willis, Jack 128, 186

Winer, Eric 330

Woods, Marc 301

Wright, Alan 183

You have cancer. From the moment you hear these words, your life changes. You are suddenly faced with having to learn about your diagnosis, understand your treatment options, and make vital decisions about your health careoften in the face of intense emotional upheaval, for yourself and your family.

What Helped Get Me Through can help you each step of the way and fortify you with the strength, courage, and knowledge necessary to deal with the tough challenges ahead. Hundreds of survivors from all walks of lifeincluding personalities like Carly Simon, Scott Hamilton, and Lance Armstrongshare their heartfelt reflections and practical solutions for getting through the cancer journey.

Julie K. Silver, MD, is an assistant professor atHarvard Medical School in the Departmentof Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation andis on the medical staff at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. She is a breast cancer survivor and an award-winning author of many books, including After Cancer Treatment: Heal Faster, Better, Stronger and Super Healing

Available everywhere books are sold and online at

http://www.cancer.org/bookstore

American Cancer Societys Complete Guide to Colorectal Cancer

American Cancer Societys Complete Guide to Prostate Cancer

Breast Cancer Clear & Simple: All Your Questions Answered

The Cancer Atlas (available in English, Spanish, French, and Chinese)

Cancer: What Causes It, What Doesnt

QuickFACTS - Advanced Cancer

QuickFACTS - Bone Metastasis

QuickFACTS - Colorectal Cancer, Second Edition

QuickFACTS - Lung Cancer

QuickFACTS - Prostate Cancer

The Tobacco Atlas, Second Edition (available in English, Spanish and French)

American Cancer Societys Guide to Pain Control: Understanding and Managing Cancer Pain, Revised Edition

Cancer Caregiving A to Z: An At-Home Guide for Patients and Families

Caregiving: A Step-By-Step Resource for Caring for the Person with Cancer at Home, Revised Edition

Eating Well, Staying Well During and After Cancer

Get Better! Communication Cards for Kids & Adults

Lymphedema: Understanding and Managing Lymphedema After Cancer Treatment

Social Work in Oncology: Supporting Survivors, Families and Caregivers

When the Focus Is on Care: Palliative Care and Cancer

Angels & Monsters: A childs eye view of cancer

Cancer in the Family: Helping Children Cope with a Parents Illness

Couples Confronting Cancer: Keeping Your Relationship Strong

Crossing Divides: A Couples Story of Cancer, Hope, and Hiking Montanas Continental Divide

I Can Survive

Because Someone I Love Has Cancer: Kids Activity Book

Healthy Me: A Read-Along Coloring & Activity Book

Kids First Cookbook: Delicious-Nutritious Treats To Make Yourself!

Mom and the Polka-Dot Boo-Boo

Our Dad Is Getting Better

Our Mom Has Cancer (hardcover)

Our Mom Has Cancer (paperback)

Our Mom Is Getting Better

The American Cancer Societys Healthy Eating Cookbook: A celebration of food, friendship, and healthy living, Third Edition

Celebrate! Healthy Entertaining for Any Occasion

Good for You! Reducing Your Risk of Developing Cancer

The Great American Eat-Right Cookbook: 140 Great-Tasting, Good-for-You Recipes