Breast Cancer: A Suggested Reading List
The following books might be useful to breast cancer patients and their families. Most are available at the public library, many are available through local bookstores.
A Cancer Story: Path Through the Fire, by Wendy Allen Wheeler
Author is a social worker, an artist and a breast cancer survivor. It's a diary of sorts, with poetry, commentary, and wonderful artwork of Wendy's experience from the day of diagnosis to post-treatment.
After Breast Cancer: A Common-Sense Guide to Life After Treatment, by Hester Hill Schnipper, LICSW
"As women quickly discover, their life when treatment ends is very different from what it was before diagnosis. Often exhausted, anxious, and emotionally volatile, they are beset by physical discomforts, fearful of intimacy, afraid for their children, worried about recurrence. Anticipating a return to "normalcy", they discover that the old version of normal no longer applies."
Schnipper, herself a breast cancer survivor and highly respected oncology social worker, helps prepare women for life after treatment. "The idea of transformation underlies the book, and she devotes a moving chapter to the different ways some women have gained or regained a sense of spirituality."
A Spiritual Journey Through Breast Cancer: Strength for Today, Hope for Tomorrow, by Judy Asti
Northfield Publishing, ISBN #: 1-881273-35-0
"By seeking the one and only fource of all our strength and encouragement, Judy not only endured the most challenging time in her life, but emerged with a deeper faith. Her story will inspire every woman affected by breast cancer."
A Tribe of Warrier Women, by Melissa Springer
1996, Crane Hill Publishers
Photographs and personal vignettes of 32 breast cancer survivors, captured by photojournalist Melissa Springer.
Advanced Breast Cancer: A Guide to Living with Metastatic Disease, by Musa Mayer with Linda Lamb (ed.)
1999, OReilly & Associates, Inc.
Offers the stories of 40 women and men as they live with metastatic breast cancer over many years. Includes updates on medical treatment advances and resource listings.
Another Morning: Voices of Truth and Hope from Mothers with Cancer by Linda Blachman
2006, Seal Press.
This book is described as a "powerful, inspirational, and deeply moving book, a tapestry of voices from ordinary women coping with every woman's nightmare: a cancer diagnosis while raising children." The women's stories describe both the hard challenges and the surprising gifts of parenting through cancer.
Breast Cancer Husband : How to Help Your Wife (and Yourself) during Diagnosis, Treatment and Beyond, by Marc Silver.
"When breast cancer happens to the woman you love, all you want to do is fix and make it go away. This book gives partners the useful and sensitive answers they need to so many of the how-tos, what-ifs, and when-wills that come up along the way. A survival guide for men and women confronting any life threatening illness."
Breast Cancer Journal: A Century of Petals, by Juliet Wittman
1993, Fulcrom Publishing
Author is a journalist and breast cancer survivor who leads the reader through her diagnosis and treatment, sharing her experience as a wife and mother of a ten-year old daughter.
Breast Cancer? Let Me Check My Schedule!, edited by Peggy McCarthy and Jo An Loren
1997, Westview Press
Ten professional women share their wisdom and experience about what it means to live with breast cancer.
Breast Cancer News: Information For Survivors
Monthly Publication from Creative Health Services, 1887 Coventry Way, Jonesboro, Georgia 30236-2697.
Cancer in Two Voices, by Sandra Butler and Barbara Rosenblum
1996, Spinsters Book Co.
A very moving account of the authors' last year together based on diary excerpts. Reveals how breast cancer affects women as life partners.
Cancer as a Turning Point, by Lawrence LeShan, PhD
1994, Plume Printing
Written by a psychotherapist who has worked with cancer patients for over thirty-five years. Drawing on the experience of those who have challenged cancer and triumphed, the author encourages patients to use cancer as a turning point to lead a more fulfilling, richer life.
Close To The Bone: Life Threatening Illness and The Search For Meaning, Jean Shinola Bolen, MD
1996, Scribner.
Dr. Susan Love's Breast Book, 2nd Ed., 1995
Helping Your Mate Face Breast Cancer, by Judy Kneece, 1995, EDUCare.
Hope is Contagious: The Breast Cancer Treatment Survival Handbook, by Margit Esser Porter
1997, Simon & Schuster
Collection of quotes from women on how to cope with breast cancer treatment.
Hope Lives! The after Breast Cancer Survival Handbook, by Margit Esser Porter
2000, H.I.C. Publishing.
I Still Buy Green Bananas: Living with Hope, Living with Breast Cancer
A booklet offering hope and insight for breast cancer survivors. Includes patient stories and quotes. Click here to download a pdf copy of the booklet »
Just Get Me Through This: The Practical Guide to Breast Cancer, by Deborah A. Cohen, Robert M., MD Geldfand
Breast cancer survivor Deborah Cohen uses straight talk and practical tips to help patients deal with all the ups and downs of the breast cancer experience, from the shock of diagnosis, to getting through treatment, to getting on with your life.
Living Beyond Breast Cancer: a Survivor's Guide for When Treatment Ends and the Rest of Your Life Begins, by Marisa C. Weiss, M.D. and Ellen Weiss
1997, Times Books.
Living With the End in Mind, by Erin & Douglas Kramp.
Erin was a young mother with breast cancer whose inspiring story was profiled on
The Oprah Winfrey show. Her uplifting book is filled with numerous ideas on leaving positive legacies and "living life to the fullest by embracing your mortality."
No Less A Woman, Ten women shatter the myths about Breast Cancer, D.H. Kahane
1997, Prentice Hall Press.
Not Just One in Eight: Stories of Breast Cancer Survivors and their Families, by Barbara Stevens
Focuses on twenty breast cancer survivors, 19 women and 1 man, revealing their stories of the disease and its impact on their family members and friends. The interviews are compassionate and absorbing.
Recovering From Breast Surgery: Exercises To Strengthen Your Body and Relieve pain, by Diana Stumm, PT
1998, Hunter House.
Songs from a Lead-Lined Room: notes-high and low-from my journey through breast cancer and radiation, by Suzanne Strempek Shea
2002, Beacon Press
Spinning Straw Into Gold: Your Emotional Recovery from Breast Cancer, by Ronnie Kaye, MFCC
1991, Simon & Schuster
Author has insight as both a survivor and a psychologist. Reveals shared feelings of body image, mortality, and personal growth in breast cancer journey.
The Breast Cancer Survival Manual-A Step-By-Step Guide for the Woman with Newly Diagnosed Breast Cancer, by John Link, MD, 1998.
The Human Side of Cancer: Living with Hope, Coping with Uncertainty, by Jimmie Holland, MD and Sheldon Lewis
Explores the broad range of emotions that people with cancer and their loved ones experience from the moment of diagnosis through treatment and its aftermath. Provides the latest information on "medicine that doesn't come in a bottle": counseling, support groups, meditation, & other coping strategies that can help. This book imparts a message of common sense and caring.
Thriving After Breast Cancer : Essential Healing Exercises for Body and Mind by Sherry Lebed Davis, Stephanie Gunning
"An essential guide to healing both body and mind and to recovering your pre-treatment energy, strength, flexibility, and posture." This book is complete with "warm-up routines for different sports, mind-body exercises, and nutritional advice" that can help you get rid of the emotional and physical challenges that breast cancer treatment poses on you.
What We Have, What We Share: Stories of Mothers and Daughters Bonding through Breast Cancer by S. Eva Singletary, MD, Alice F. Judkins, RN, MS, and Holly Masturzo, PhD
Recounts the stories of 12 women with breast cancer and its impact on them and on their relationships with their daughters. Order by calling the MD Anderson Cancer Center's Volunteer Gift Shop at (713)792-4438. Book costs $14.95 and proceeds benefit breast cancer education programs at the center.
Woman to Woman: A Handbook for Women Newly Diagnosed with Breast Cancer, by Hester Hill Schnipper & Joan Berns
Avon Publishing, NY, 1999.
Survivors of breast cancer offer warm, practical advice and essential information to newly diagnosed women.
You Don't Have to Be Your Mother, by Gayle Feldman
1994, W.W. Norton & Co.
The courageous story of a 40-year-old woman battling breast cancer during pregnancy. How she comes to terms with her own mother's death from breast cancer is both moving and inspirational.
Compiled by Kerry Irish, Oncology Social Worker, Hematology/Oncology Associates, 12 High St, Suite 205, Lewiston, ME 04240. (207)795-7118 - 10/2001, last updated 10/06.
