I've been on a reading kick of "Cancer" books both at bookstores and my library. Most are written by Breast Cancer survivors but deal with generic cancer issues. As I go thru them, I'll post excerpts that tickle my fancy. I invite anyone else to join in with their readings and I won't consider it hijacking the thread. I'll keep sharing though so no pressure to do so.
Here's today's excerpt:
[quote]If you honestly think cancer is a "gift", then you can't come to my birthday party- 5 Lessons I didn't learn from breast cancer by Shelley Lewis[/quote]

Okay, done with that book. Most of the 260 pages were not as amusing as the quote above which came off of the back cover. I often judge a book by its back cover or its inside blurb but never the front cover (technical adherence to the old maxim)
Major Problem with reading breast cancer books is the big disconnect between the authors radiation experience , worrying about weight gain plus a focus on uniquely female issues limits their relevance to me personally.

I did like this excerpt entitled "Beware the Attitude Police" about the unrelenting pressure to keep a positive attitude
[quote]We all want to be strong and brave and have a positive attitude, but what about those days when you just are feeling it? You can end up worrying that your're somehow failing as a 'soldier" and will not only disappoint your loved ones but will also cause your cancer to grow. Death by Bad Attitude...
[/quote] She goes on to quote Molly Irvin's 2002 article in Time magazine: [quote]I suspect cancer doesn't give a rat's ass whether you have a positive mental attitude. It just sits there multiplying away whether you are admirably stoic or weeping and wailing. The only reason to have a positive mental attitude is that it makes life better. It doesn't cure cancer.[/quote]
Next posts will be snips from Chicken Soup for Cancer Survivors.

Okay. I'm abandoning this thread. I thought that with "101 Healing Stories about those who have survived Cancer" in one book, I'd have to renew it at the library in order to post all the excerpts I loved. Nada, zip. I should have known after reading the autobiography of the son of the primary author, Jack Canfield of Chicken Soup Fame. His son painted a picture of an opportunistic charlatan who left a pregnant wife and first born son to shift for themselves while running off with a staffer of his new self help empire. He's rounded up all the usual self help suspects with their versions of The Secret and tales of curing their cancer with diet, meditation, visualization and positive thoughts or else being spiritually transformed.
Just not my cup of tea.

Oh, Charm - I'm disappointed you're abandoning this thread. You had me all enthused about the Chicken Soup for Cancer Survivors. Oh well - I guess I will have to relegate this last disappointment to the "small stuff" category and try to move on.

While you may be abandoning the thread there are two books I would highly recommend. One is "The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tole. While I was crossing my eyes trying to make my wee brain follow what he was saying through parts of it, all of a sudden we hit part 4 of 4 and it all fell into place (I bought it as an audiobook on ITunes). I have listened to that part of the book many many times and find it comforting, inspirational and important. Having listened to it all, I'm not he ure if just listening to Part 4 would give you the same understanding of what he is saying, but I'm sure even that would be a help if you found the rest of it too tough to plow through.

Another fabulous book is "Chasing Daylight". It is written by and is the story of a KPMG CEO (52 I think?) who was handed a terminal diagnosis and how he handled it. I loved this book and found his approach admirable.

So Charm, while you may want to abandon this thread, maybe others would want to post what books have helped them.

Hugs.

Donna

Wow...I want to start a Self Help empire so I can get chicks! *smacks head* Why didn't I think of that?!?

Donna

I have read both books and heartily agree that they are wonderful and inspiring. So much so that we even broke our rule about only checking books out of the library and bought a copy of Tolle's Power of Now. Heck, we even bought a copy of Eckhart Tolle's "sequel" A New Earth (Awakening to your Life's purpose)
[that one even made Oprah's Book club]
Have to say though, that even after multiple readings, it's easier to read and agree than implement in my life.
Tolle's books are not cancer oriented so I did not even think about them since this thread was just going to be on the plethora of cancer books I've been reading.
Charm

Anne-Marie

We wouldn't want you to be disappointed and none of need even "small stuff" added to what we endure, so I'll give this thread another shot. Actually in reading CSCS, I did find one I liked although it was the shortest of all 101 stories so I can post it in its entirety
[quote]Having an Attitude
Attitude is everything in recovery from cancer. You gotta have 'tude if you expect to take a licking and come back ticking. Tumor humor is not warm and friendly; it's scrappy and sometimes nasty and tasteless, a sort of chemotherapy for the spirit - necessary but (not always)nice.- Robert Lipsyte[/quote]

The Power of Now does deal with illness' in Part 4. He talks about them as "part of your life situation" and not actually who you are. I love how he talks about not allowing your mind to run to catastrophic thinking - bringing yourself back to the Now which of course if all any of us has. Well worth the read.

EricS

Now see, that's the Attitude I'm talking about. Thanks for the smile Eric
Charm

Charm - I'm glad you are giving the cancer books another shot and that other books are being suggested. Anything that can help us with attitude when fighting cancer or with any other stressful situations is certainly worthwhile. I found the two Eckhart Tolle books easier for me to enjoy after seeing an Oprah broadcast/skype interview with Eckhart T. where they discussed his books and he explained some of the things he said. Two quotes I remember most are: "What you resist, persists" and "Accept with joy and enthusiasm". I have a little trouble with the "joy and enthusiasm" part but I can "accept" even though I may not agree with what happened. Getting unstuck from the resistance mode makes it easier to get control of a situation. The "Now" is so important, it's worth a little effort to try to find ways to make it peaceful and happy for ourselves. A book I really found powerful is Jill Bolte Taylor's book "My Stroke of Insight" in which she discusses the right and left brain and how to get some control over those brain cells that affect our attitudes.

Charm,
I bought the chicken soup book second hand, so Mr. Canfield received no royalities. However, this bit from Norman Cousins had us rolling. As Robert Lipsyte said, tumor humor isn't always tasty
[quote]When I was in the hospital my nurse really irritated me, so I decided to play a little joke on her.

One day, she brought in a specimen cup and requested a urine sample. After she left, I poured my apple juice into the cup. When she returned for the specimen, she observed it and noted, �My, we�re a little cloudy today, aren�t we?�

I asked to see it, removed the lid and said, �Yep, better run it through again,� and drank it. The look of shock on her face was priceless.
[/quote]

Another book on cancer I have read, is "When God and Cancer Meet" I bight this book deparate for help. This was the most amazing book I could hav eever read. Gave me hope and made realize that we are not alone in this cancer battle.

Susan

Thanks for posting that. I was a little grumpy when I dismissed the entire CSCSS (worried about my 90 day checkup which went well afterall). But that's why I encourage other OCF posters to share in this thread. In rereading it, I even loved the "punny" title of the article. For the rest of OCF, Heres that first paragraph that leads into the funny story you shared
[quote]The "Wee" nurse "when I was in the hospital, I had a a "We" nurse. She began each sentence with "how are we today?" "We need to have a bath" this really irritated me,so I decided to play a little joke on her...(segue to Susan's post)[/quote]
thanks again for having me reconsider this book. Actually the other Norman Cousin's story about the telephone operator and the coin phone is funny also.
Charm

A very small and insightful book by a Zen monk that I found so encouraging is "True Love" by Thich Nhat Hanh (pronounced "tick not hon"). It's not about cancer, but can be so useful to caregivers when the loved ones they are caring for are in emotional pain. Some of the chapters describe "being there when someone is suffering", "deep listening", "restoring peace within yourself". It's a very quick read book and one that allows picking a chapter here and there without having to read every short chapter in specific order.

I'm getting all these books!! Since i'm not sleeping much these days, would love to know any other books people have read and would recommend. Got "Man's Search for Meaning" already from Erics rave review on it.

Minh

I just got "Man's Search for Meaning" by Frankl. It was free on my Wattpad app on my iPhone. The app is also free. How about that? I just can't tell if I have the whole book or not. I am on page 17 or 62 (electronic version) and it says "Part 1 of 1". So, is this the whole book? Is there a Part 2?

Anne-Marie,

It's not a very long book but it is broken up into two "sections". The first part of the book is Viktor sharing his experience in the Nazi death camps, the second is his insights etc...

Thanks for the info about Wattpad, need to DL that for my iPod touch...or hopefully my iPad (come on Santa don't let me down big guy!!!).

Hope you guys enjoy it as much as I did.

Eric - thanks for info on Frankl's book. I am finding it to be a "keeper" with many sections that can relate or be helpful to the cancer experience. In looking over more carefully the selections I have from Wattpad, they are not the complete versions but give a good reason to purchase the complete version. Amazon Kindle gives "samples" also and the complete versions are very inexpensive ($5.22 for Frankl's book). When SC brings you your iPod or iPad, also check out these apps: Kindle Amazon, Stanza, Books on Board, eReader and Bookshelf.

Lance Armstrong - It's Not About the Bike, My Journey Back To Life'

"I didn't have cancer anymore, but I didn't not have it, either."

That quote caught my eye.

You know, this is a fairly 'famous' cancer book, and Lance's story/comeback to athletic prominence is great, but the first thing I noticed while reading the book is he was actually between contracts when he was diagnosed. He had no insurance. Strings were pulled because of who he is, and poof, he had insurance. Then, to top that, he speaks often in the book about his wealth, and the elitism of high profile athletes like himself.

I'm pretty sure he and I had completely different cancer experiences...