Copyright 2003
In her new book, Hope in the Face of Cancer: A Survival Guide for the Journey You Did Not Choose, Amy Givler, M.D. acts as both a guide and a fellow traveler for those embarking on an unwanted journey. As a medical doctor who has survived cancer, she provides wise advice for people who have been diagnosed with cancer. Family members and caregivers will also find it helpful to their understanding of living with a diagnosis of cancer.
The journey begins with the emotions involved in diagnosis; the grief process that begins with shock and denial and moves toward acceptance. While still dealing with the emotional upheaval, patients must enter a strange new medical world. Dr. Givler helps the reader make sense of cancer treatment. How can people know which doctors and treatments are reliable? What is the best way to choose what's best for their situation? These are the types of questions people with cancer face.
A healthy attitude can make a big difference when it comes to coping with cancer - or any other serious illness. Facing illness can also have a positive influence on our attitudes and daily habits. It can awaken us to what's truly important. And dealing with an illness can help a person learn better ways to deal with other problems in life, both minor and major. When life takes an unexpected turn, Dr. Givler recommends five important habits:
· forcing the mind to think
· making decisions promptly
· acting on those decisions
· keeping focused on the path ahead
· staying alert to the possibility of change
Dr. Givler recommends a team approach that involves health providers, family members, and friends. She also explores healthy habits that can help a person cope with the journey through cancer treatment. Not surprisingly, taking care of the physical body by getting adequate rest, nutrition, and exercise is essential. Dealing with anxiety, fatigue, and side effects are also important.
Spirituality plays an important role in maintaining health. Dr. Givler draws upon wisdom found in a book written by three doctors who have studied religion's impact on health, Handbook of Religion and Health. They cite several health benefits of religion:
· greater social support
· less depression
· a greater sense of well being
· less anxiety
· a more stable immune system
Victor Frankl, a psychiatrist who survived the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz, spent his life lecturing and writing that a person's deepest desire is for life to have meaning. After reading Hope in the Face of Cancer, I'm realizing that illness can bring us closer to finding that meaning.
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