Kirby J. Duvall Boeken

Half of all men and one-third of all women in the United States will develop cancer during their lifetimes, according to the American Cancer Society, and on top of the pain and struggle that patients have to face, a cancer diagnosis can also profoundly affect the lives of their loved ones. Friends and family members who may not know what to do, what to say, or how to help an individual diagnosed with cancer will find guidance and comfort in this book that helps them understand the normal and natural grief their loved one is experiencing. The basic process of grief and mourning is explained, and suggestions are provided for things readers can do to help their friend or family member not only survive, but thrive. Regardless of the type or stage of cancer, the treatment plan, or the prognosis, this compassionate guide will help readers be good companions throughout the journey that is cancer.

According to the American Cancer Society, more than one million people get cancer in the United States each year. The diagnosis is often a major physical, emotional, social, and spiritual blow, capable of shaking patients to their core. This empathetic guide coauthored by cancer survivor Dr. Alan Wolfelt helps individuals understand and cope with the many difficult thoughts and feelings to which a cancer diagnosis can give rise, assisting them as they find ways to experience peace and joy throughout their journey. Among the 100 ideas for surviving and thriving in this book are those that explain the basic principles of grief and mourning and how they apply to a life-altering, life-threatening, or terminal medical diagnosis. Others offer instantaneous, in-the-moment suggestions of things that cancer patients can do immediately in order to express their grief and live with meaning in each moment. This book is a calming companion for people battling cancer and their loved ones.