5 stars for Getting Things Off My Chest: A Survivor’s Guide to Staying Fearless and Fabulous in the Face of Breast Cancer by Melanie Young.
Though I read both fiction as well as non-fiction books, I invest a lot less time on the latter. This is because my love for imaginary stories that do not actually exist far exceeds that for prose writing that is informative or factual. Thus I will rather devote my precious personal time to reading stories created specially for works of fiction than on facts or real events.
So why this book and specifically one that revolves around breast cancer? This is because one of my peers, a sweet-natured girl, bade farewell to the world this year due to this disease. She was diagnosed with breast cancer during her third pregnancy in 2013. Following the birth of her son and treatment, my friend was given a clean bill of health by the doctor. But in late 2014, she suffered a relapse. She fought a good fight but finally succumbed to breast cancer in July this year. She was survived by her husband and three children, the oldest child 9 years of age and the youngest one barely 2 years old. The diagnosis of cancer, recurrence and subsequent passing of my friend comes as a shock to many of us; after all, she is still in her prime.
According to the American Cancer Society, a nationwide, community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem, about 1 in 8 United States women (about 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of their lifetime. In 2015, an estimated 231,840 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the United States and about 40,290 women are expected to die from it, respectively making breast cancer the second most commonly diagnosed cancer among American women, right after skin cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in women, exceeded only by lung cancer. At this point in time, there are more than 2.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States, including women who are in treatment or have completed it. (Source: What Are the Key Statistics about Breast Cancer? Last modified on 10 June 2015)
On 9 August 2009, author Melanie Young - owner of a wine and food marketing and special events business - is diagnosed with Stage IIA breast cancer and effectively becomes the "1 in 8". Because of her ordeal with breast cancer, she writes Getting Things Off My Chest in hope of letting her book play the role of a breast cancer mentor that prepares those diagnosed with this cancer on what to expect. Based on the author's experience as well as that of other survivors, the book combines practical and useful survivor's tips for facing cancer head-on, handling diagnosis and managing treatment.
I will not say that I have enjoyed reading Getting Things Off My Chest because it is just so inappropriate. Instead, I will say this; I take my time to read and digest the information, facts, advice and sharing in Getting Things Off My Chest. This book works exactly as intended by the author, as a comprehensive survivor's guide to staying fearless and fabulous in the face of breast cancer. It opens my mind to the many questions-to-ask and options-to-discuss as posed by the author. It provides a candid illustration of what it feels like to find oneself in an unchartered territory called 'Cancer Land'. It gives very good advice on using energy positively to focus on fighting the cancer, getting through the treatment and living the rest of your life in a way that minimises the risk of recurrence.
Having finished the book, I have a much better understanding of the - emotional, mental and physical - trauma and pain that my friend and her family must have undergone. The book has also up my knowledge of this cancer which can secretly creep into any woman's life and catch her unaware - until it is too late - if she allows it so by overlooking regular self-examination and/or recommended yearly mammogram (for those above 40 years old).
Publisher: Cedar Fort, Inc.
Publication date: 10 Sep 2013
*** Favourite quote 1 ***
You can visit doctors for medical advice, but it takes a real survivor to provide the life essentials for getting you through a breast cancer diagnosis, or any cancer diagnosis.
*** Favourite quote 2 ***
Ask the right questions, get the right facts, and decide, along with your team of medical advisors, how to keep yourself healthy.
*** Favourite quote 3 ***
Life is not about how many breaths you take, but about how many moments take your breath away.
~ Getting Things Off My Chest: A Survivor’s Guide to Staying Fearless and Fabulous in the Face of Breast Cancer
Melanie Young
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Melanie helps you navigate your breast cancer journey with this all-inclusive guide filled with helpful survivor’s tips and expert advice. Complete with checklists geared toward streamlining your new life, this book helps you ask the right questions, make informed decisions, eliminate stress, boost your spirits, eat and exercise for your health and look and feel your best during and after treatment. Don’t let your cancer control you! Empower yourself; stay focused; keep your sense of humor and ease the transition with this book.
This is a witty, helpful handbook on health-nutrition-beauty-cancer management 101 for women who don’t what to be confined or defined by their diagnosis and who want to make smart decisions about managing their well-being.
*Blurb from author's website*
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