My parent has cancer and it really sucks : real-life advice from real-life teens

Front Cover; Title Page; Copyright; Contents; Introduction; Chapter 1: The News; 1.1 A Hunch; 1.2 Why Your Parents Told You the Way They Did; 1.3 Why You Reacted the Way You Did; 1.4 A Charged Word; Chapter 2: Cancer 101; 2.1 The Big Question Marks; 2.2 Treatments and Their Side Effects; 2.3 The Cure: Why Isn't There One Yet?; 2.4 True or False; 2.5 Tell Me More!; Chapter 3: Let's Talk: How to Keep Your Family Communication Lines Wide Open; 3.1 How Much Do You Want to Know?; 3.2 What If You're Out of the Loop?; 3.3 Reality Check: How Far in the Know Can You Go?;A book specifically for the family member most forgotten when cancer strikes a parent: teens Picture this: Your mom or dad has cancer-and suddenly, everything's different. Your parents are distracted by doctor's visits and treatments. Your friends can't understand what you're going through. And you feel like there is absolutely no one to turn to. Unfortunately this is the hard, cold reality that more than 1 million teens face every day. This is why writer Marc Silver and his daughter Maya Silver-who was a teenager when her mother was diagnosed with cancer-have compiled a collection of s. Real-life advice from real-life teens Currently one million American teenagers live with a parent who is fighting cancer. It's a hard blow for those already navigating high school, preparing for college, and becoming increasingly independent. My Parent Has Cancer and It Really Sucks is the first book written especially for teens to help during this tough time. Author Maya Silver was 15 when her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001. She and her dad, Marc, have combined their family's personal experience with advice from dozens of medical professionals and real stories from 100 teens --all going through the same thing Maya did. In a highly designed, engaging style, this book gives practical guidance that includes: ? how to talk about the diagnosis (and what does diagnosis even mean, anyway?) ? the best outlets for stress (punching a wall is not a great one, but should it happen, there are instructions for a patch job) ? how to deal with friends (especially one the ones with 'pity eyes') ? whether to tell the teachers and guidance counselors and what they should know (how not to get embarrassed in class) ? what happens in a therapy session and how to find a support group if you want one A special section for parents also gives tips on strategies for sharing the news, making sure your child doesn't become the parent, what to do if the outlook is grim, and tips for how to live life after cancer. My Parent Has Cancer and It Really Sucks allows teens to see that they are not alone. That no matter how rough things get, they will get through this difficult time. That everything they're feeling is ok. Essays from Gilda Radner's "Gilda's Club" annual contest are an especially poignant and moving testimony of how other teens dealt with their family's situation. PRAISE FOR MY PARENT HAS CANCER AND IT REALLY SUCKS "Wisely crafted into a wonderfully warm, engaging and informative book that reads like a chat with a group of friends with helpful advice from the experts." Paula K. Rauch MD, Director of the Marjorie E. Korff Parenting At a Challenging Time Program "A must read for parents, kids, teachers and medical staff who know anyone with cancer. You will learn something on every page." Anna Gottlieb, MPA, Founder and CEO Gilda's Club Seattle "This book is a 'must have' for oncologists, cancer treatment centers and families with teenagers." Kathleen McCue, MA, LSW, CCLS, Director of the Children's Program at The Gathering Place, Cleveland, OH "My Parent Has Cancer and It Really Sucks provides a much-needed toolkit for teens coping with a parent's cancer. In this honest and heart-felt guide, Marc Silver and his daughter, Maya, present direct, no-nonsense and helpful advice." Jane Saccaro, CEO of Camp Kesem, a camp for children who have a parent with cancer "Marc and Maya Silver have skillfully blended the voices of teens, parents and experts...This book is knowing, pragmatic, and attuned to the challenges of growing into one's self while having to attend to a parent's needs." Barry J. Jacobs, Psy.D., clinical psychologist and author of The Emotional Survival Guide for Caregivers "A valuable resource for teenagers and their families." Seth Berkowitz, LCSW, CCLS, Patient Services Manager, Southern Florida Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Real-life advice from real-life teens Currently one million American teenagers live with a parent who is fighting cancer. It's a hard blow for those already navigating high school, preparing for college, and becoming increasingly independent. My Parent Has Cancer and It Really Sucks is the first book written especially for teens to help during this tough time. Author Maya Silver was 15 when her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001. She and her dad, Marc, have combined their family's personal experience with advice from dozens of medical professionals and real stories from 100 teens--all going through the same thing Maya did. In a highly designed, engaging style, this book gives practical guidance that includes:?how to talk about the diagnosis (and what does diagnosis even mean, anyway?)?the best outlets for stress (punching a wall is not a great one, but should it happen, there are instructions for a patch job)?how to deal with friends (especially one the ones with 'pity eyes')?whether to tell the teachers and guidance counselors and what they should know (how not to get embarrassed in class)?what happens in a therapy session and how to find a support group if you want one A special section for parents also gives tips on strategies for sharing the news, making sure your child doesn't become the parent, what to do if the outlook is grim, and tips for how to live life after cancer. My Parent Has Cancer and It Really Sucks allows teens to see that they are not alone. That no matter how rough things get, they will get through this difficult time. That everything they're feeling is ok. Essays from Gilda Radner's Gilda's Club annual contest are an especially poignant and moving testimony of how other teens dealt with their family's situation. PRAISE FOR MY PARENT HAS CANCER AND IT REALLY SUCKS Wisely crafted into a wonderfully warm, engaging and informative book that reads like a chat with a group of friends with helpful advice from the experts. Paula K. Rauch MD, Director of the Marjorie E. Korff Parenting At a Challenging Time Program A must read for parents, kids, teachers and medical staff who know anyone with cancer. You will learn something on every page. Anna Gottlieb, MPA, Founder and CEO Gilda's Club Seattle This book is a 'must have' for oncologists, cancer treatment centers and families with teenagers. Kathleen McCue, MA, LSW, CCLS, Director of the Children's Program at The Gathering Place, Cleveland, OH My Parent Has Cancer and It Really Sucks provides a much-needed toolkit for teens coping with a parent's cancer. In this honest and heart-felt guide, Marc Silver and his daughter, Maya, present direct, no-nonsense and helpful advice. Jane Saccaro, CEO of Camp Kesem, a camp for children who have a parent with cancer Marc and Maya Silver have skillfully blended the voices of teens, parents and experts ... This book is knowing, pragmatic, and attuned to the challenges of growing into one's self while having to attend to a parent's needs. Barry J. Jacobs, Psy. D., clinical psychologist and author of The Emotional Survival Guide for Caregivers A valuable resource for teenagers and their families. Seth Berkowitz, LCSW, CCLS, Patient Services Manager, Southern Florida Chapter of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Let's face it, cancer sucks. This book provides real-life advice from real-life teens designed to help teens live with a parent who is fighting cancer. One million American teenagers live with a parent who is fighting cancer. It's a hard blow for those already navigating high school, preparing for college, and becoming increasingly independent. Author Maya Silver was 15 when her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001. She and her dad, Marc, have combined their family's personal experience with advice from dozens of medical professionals and real stories from 100 teens—all going through the same thing Maya did. The topic of cancer can be difficult to approach, but in a highly designed, engaging style, this book gives practical guidance that includes: How to talk about the diagnosis (and what does diagnosis even mean, anyway?) The best outlets for stress (punching a wall is not a great one, but should it happen, there are instructions for a patch job) How to deal with friends (especially one the ones with 'pity eyes') Whether to tell the teachers and guidance counselors and what they should know (how not to get embarrassed in class) What happens in a therapy session and how to find a support group if you want one A special section for parents also gives tips on strategies for sharing the news and explaining cancer to a child, making sure your child doesn't become the parent, what to do if the outlook is grim, and tips for how to live life after cancer. My Parent Has Cancer and It Really Sucks allows teens to see that they are not alone. That no matter how rough things get, they will get through this difficult time. That everything they're feeling is ok. Essays from Gilda Radner's "Gilda's Club" annual contest are an especially poignant and moving testimony of how other teens dealt with their family's situation. Praise for My Parent Has Cancer and It Really Sucks: " Wisely crafted into a wonderfully warm, engaging and informative book that reads like a chat with a group of friends with helpful advice from the experts." —Paula K. Rauch MD, Director of the Marjorie E. Korff Parenting At a Challenging Time Program "A must read for parents, kids, teachers and medical staff who know anyone with cancer. You will learn something on every page ." —Anna Gottlieb, MPA, Founder and CEO Gilda's Club Seattle "This book is a 'must have' for oncologists, cancer treatment centers and families with teenagers." —Kathleen McCue, MA, LSW, CCLS, Director of the Children's Program at The Gathering Place, Cleveland, OH "My Parent Has Cancer and It Really Sucks provides a much-needed toolkit for teens coping with a parent's cancer." —Jane Saccaro, CEO of Camp Kesem, a camp for children who have a parent with cancer Suddenly everything is different. What Now? First, know that there are an estimated 1 million other teenagers with a parent who has cancer. And they want to help you through it. Because you will get through it How do you talk to your parents about it? How do you deal with friends when they give you "pity eyes"? Is it awful if you're more concerned about prom and college? (Answer: no) What do you tell the school? What does chemotherapy mean? What are the best ways to de-stress? Here you'll find advice from over 100 teens and experts who have all been there. Sure, cancer sucks. But it sucks a lot less when you have help.