Breast Cancer? Let Me Check My Schedule! : Ten Remarkable Women Meet The Challenge Of Fitting Breast Cancer Into Their Very Busy Lives

They come from different backgrounds and from professions as varied as medicine, education, and entertainment, but these ten women share one thing in common: They all have breast cancer. This book describes their experiences, exploring their initial fear, rage, and uncertainty, and reveals how each eventually coped, in her own way, with her diagnosis. Cover Half Title Title Copyright Dedication Contents Foreword Preface Acknowledgments About the Contributors Facts About Breast Cancer 1 The Shock of Diagnosis 2 Taking an Active Role First Steps to Regaining Control Strategies and Tactics for Regaining Control 3 Deciding About Treatment Lumpectomy or Mastectomy Reconstruction Radiation and/or Chemotherapy Tamoxifen When Breast Cancer Recurs Complementary Therapeutic Choices 4 Experiencing Treatment Finding Time to Have Cancer Trade-Offs and Job Responsibilities The Experience of Surgery Waiting to Hear About the Nodes The Experience of Radiation and Chemotherapy Maintaining a Work Persona 5 Fallout at Work Health Insurance Sick Leave Disability Insurance Americans with Disabilities Act Life Insurance Changing Jobs On the Job Reactions of Colleagues Managing Relationships with Others Strength and Vulnerability 6 Sex and Intimacy Defining the Roles Communication Special Issues for Those Who Are Single Sexuality 7 The Genetic Strand-The Tie That Binds Our Parents Pregnancy Following Treatment for Breast Cancer Our Children Comments on the Genetic Link 8 Dealing with Emotions The Range of Emotions Working Through Our Emotions Support Groups The Fear of Recurrence Disability and Death 9 Cancer as a Wake-up Call The Impact of Stress Work and Money Personal Responsibilities Our Priorities and Professional Style Our View of Time Putting Ourselves First We're Changing-Slowly 10 It Is as It Is-Yet More A New Sense of Spirituality Enriched Personal Relationships Giving Back Having Faith and Hope 11 Till We Meet Again The "Gift" of Cancer: Our Personal and Spiritual Growth Life Changes, by Choice and by Circumstance The Many Faces of Pain and Suffering Our Health Care Death and Dying Our Stories Continue Afterword About the Book and Editors This book describes ten women's experiences, exploring their initial fear, rage, and uncertainty, and reveals how each eventually coped, in her own way, with her diagnosis of having breast cancer.