In many ways, it wasn’t an easy book to write. “When I read it today, I still cry,” says Gina. All, however, agree that it was worth the effort. “It was cathartic for us to write,” notes Debbie. “It helped me to reflect back on this journey and put into perspective all that we went through. It’s also a happy story. It’s good and inspiring, and we all said if we can just help one person, just one new patient, it would be worth it.”
For more information or to purchase Just a Lump in the Road, visit www.alumpintheroad.com. There are also links to other Web sites with information on breast cancer and support networks.
A Helping Hand
As with anyone fighting a difficult disease, breast cancer patients benefit greatly from help in many forms. The authors of
Just a Lump in the Road offer the following tips to help a friend or family member get through her day.
Encourage her to join a support group or help her find someone to talk to.
Do her laundry and clean her house. Don’t ask because your friend will say no. Get a house key and go while she’s at a treatment, which can take six hours.
Offer a few hours to help your friend organize her paperwork and bills. During the times that your friend is feeling good, you don’t want her knee-deep in paperwork.
If she has children, volunteer to take them to some of their functions―Little League games, birthday parties, etc. Those places can be germ factories that women going through chemo should avoid.
Be understanding. Every woman deals with her diagnosis individually. As you read in our book, while we were all on the same journey, we often dealt with things differently.
A NOTE TO OUR READERS
"Cancer Sisters" is from the September 2008 issue of Florida Living: People & Places, a special section of Southern Living
for our subscribers in Florida.
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