Surviving Cancer Emotionally

Inspiration and Information to Help You Cope With the EmotionalEffects of Cancer Cancer changes our lives-physically and emotionally. The more youunderstand about your psychological reactions to cancer, the moreeffectively you can cope. In this powerful book, Dr. Roger Granet,a psychiatrist who specializes in the emotional side effects ofcancer and its treatment, draws on two decades of experience as heexplains what you can expect emotionally at each phase. Here'sadvice on: * Dealing with the diagnosis * Finding the coping style that's right for you * Handling the many demands of treatment * Knowing when to ask for help-and how to find it * Surviving and coming to terms with a different you * Handling the fear of recurrence Written with compassion and clarity, Surviving Cancer Emotionallyreveals how we can cope with a devastating illness and turn it intoa positive catalyst for embracing life. "Dr. Granet provides ways to help people heal emotionally as theycope with an illness that carries great fears with it. Patients andfamilies will find this book a helpful companion as they undertakethe cancer journey with all its twists and turns."-Jimmie Holland,M.D., Chairman, Department of Psychiatry, Memorial Sloan-KetteringCancer Center "Dr. Granet is a caring physician with a heart and soul, and anunusual gift for telling a story. This book should be read byanybody who has cancer, or who has a loved one with cancer."-RobertMichels, M.D., University Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry,Cornell University, and former Dean and Provost, Cornell UniversityMedical College

This user-friendly guide to surviving a cancer diagnosis and the ensuing treatment will be enormously helpful to patient and their intimates. A consulting psychiatrist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering, Granet provides a wealth of information about many types of cancers and treatments such as surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and bone marrow transplants. But his central focus is the emotional toll of all aspects of the disease and the importance of seeking support from many of the available resources to cope successfully. While Granet gives no credence to the theory that particular personality traits contribute to cancer, he does insist that a patient's emotional well-being improves her quality of life. In order to maintain emotional health, he recommends strategies for copying after diagnosis, and during and after treatment (one patient struggles with "the endless waiting" leading up to and following tests and treatments). He addresses the fear of recurrence and death. Since the needs and preferences of cancer patients differ, he recommends a variety of workable techniques, based on compelling case histories, such as counseling, participation in support groups and a renewed reliance on caretaking by friends and family. He also believes that all patients benefit from acknowledging their difficult emotions rather them blurring them with alcohol or drugs; indeed, in his customarily compassionate, calm manner, readers will sense that he does not turn away from difficult feelings and fears. He does, though, advocate pain medication as an important tool when appropriate. Nothing that cancer survivors often gain deeper spiritual values and emotional maturity, the author sees the possibility of strength and grace where people often expect humiliation and dysfunction. (Oct.) (Publishers Weekly, September 3, 2001)"Dr. Granet provides ways to help people heal emotionally as theycope with an illness that carries great fears with it. Patients andfamilies will find this book a helpful companion as they undertakethe cancer journey with all its twists and turns."--Jimmie Holland,M.D., Chairman, Department of Psychiatry, Memorial Sloan-KetteringCancer Center "Dr. Granet is a caring physician with a heart and soul, and anunusual gift for telling a story. This book should be read byanybody who has cancer, or who has a loved one with cancer."--Robert Michels, M.D., University Professor of Medicine andPsychiatry, and former Dean, Weill Medical College of CornellUniversity "An extremely helpful book for all suffering from cancer. Itaddresses both the medical and psychological issues comprehensivelyand sensitively, providing patients with the information they needto face this challenge."--John A. Talbott, M.D., Professor ofPsychiatry, University of Maryland School of Medicine

ROGER GRANET, M.D., F.A.P.A., is a consulting psychiatrist at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Weill Medical College of Cornell University, a lecturer in psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, and an attending physician at New York Presbyterian Hospital and Morristown Memorial Hospital. He maintains private practices in New York City and Morristown, New Jersey.