The topic of cancer : new perspectives on the emotional experience of cancer

This book focuses on our emotional responses to cancer by offering a range of perspectives: psychoanalytic, medical, spiritual and religious, as well as literary. Once suppressed, akin to a taboo, the topic of cancer is now very much in the public consciousness. The prevalence of the disease and well-publicized medical advances in its treatment demand it.__The Topic of Cancer__ begins with Freud's cancer, widely known of but rarely understood in its historic and analytic context. Psychotherapeutic reflections are then offered on our understanding of the adult and adolescent with cancer, and the challenges of sustaining a thoughtful presence in the face of the trauma experienced both when a child is diagnosed with cancer and during treatment. The dilemmas and challenges faced by today's psychotherapist with cancer are explored next and, for the first time in cancer literature, an account of the emotional demands on nurses involved in sensitive, intimate care. With an increasing number of people living longer with cancer, “survivorship” and palliative care are the focus of the chapters that follow.As cancer is not the domain of any one discipline, __The Topic of Cancer__ looks next at the nature of religious and spiritual experience in addressing the psychological needs of people with cancer, and then considers how a poet might address painful experience, such as having to confront the possibility of approaching death. Lastly the cancer memoir is explored as an increasingly contemporary means of coming to terms with the “emperor of all maladies”. This Book Focuses On Our Emotional Responses To Cancer By Offering A Range Of Perspectives: Psychoanalytic, Medical, Spiritual And Religious, As Well As Literary. Once Suppressed, Akin To A Taboo, The Topic Of Cancer Is Now Very Much In The Public Consciousness. The Prevalence Of The Disease And Well-publicised Medical Advances In Its Treatment Demand It. This Book Begins With Freud's Cancer, Widely Known Of But Rarely Understood In Its Historic And Analytic Context. Psychotherapeutic Reflections Are Then Offered On Our Understanding Of The Adult And Adolescent With Cancer, And The Challenges Of Sustaining A Thoughtful Presence In The Face Of The Trauma Experienced When A Child Is Diagnosed With Cancer, And During Treatment. The Dilemmas And Challenges Faced By Today's Psychotherapist With Cancer Are Explored Next And, For The First Time In Cancer Literature, An Account Of The Emotional Demands On Nurses Involved In Sensitive, Intimate Care. With An Increasing Number Of People Living Longer With Cancer, Survivorship And Palliative Care Are The Focus Of The Chapters That Follow. As Cancer Is Not The Domain Of Any One Discipline, This Book Looks Next At The Nature Of Religious And Spiritual Experience In Addressing The Psychological Needs Of People With Cancer, And Then Considers How A Poet Might Address Painful Experience, Such As Having To Confront The Possibility Of Approaching Death. Lastly The Cancer Memoir Is Explored As An Increasingly Contemporary Means Of Coming To Terms With The Emperor Of All Maladies. Part I. Bearing The Unbearable -- Ch. 1. Freud's Cancer / Martin Schmidt -- Ch. 2. Understanding The Patient With Cancer / Dorothy Judd -- Ch. 3. The Emotional Impact Of Cancer On Children And Their Families / Anthony Lee And Jane Elfer -- Ch. 4. What The Illness May Reveal / John Woods -- Ch. 5. The Ill Psychotherapist : A Wounded Healer / Judy Parkinson -- Ch. 6. The Cancer Nurse Specialists' Caseload : Contending With The Fretful Elements / Anne Lanceley -- Ch. 7. On Survivorship / Adrian Tookman, Faye Gishen, And Jane Eades -- Ch. 8. Palliative Care : What, When, And How? / Robert Twycross -- Ch. 9. The Nature Of Religious/spiritual Concerns In Addressing The Psychological Needs Of People With Cancer / Jonathan Wittenverg -- Part Ii. Containment And Creativity -- Ch. 10. Finding Creative Expression / Carole Satyamurti -- Ch. 11. The Cancer Memoir : In Search Of A Writing Cure? / Anne Karpf. Edited By Jonathan Burke ; Foreword By Brett Kahr. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This book focuses on our emotional responses to cancer by offering a range of perspectives: psychoanalytic, medical, spiritual and religious, as well as literary. Once suppressed, akin to a taboo, the topic of cancer is now very much in the public consciousness. The prevalence of the disease and well-publicized medical advances in its treatment demand it. The Topic of Cancer begins with Freud's cancer, widely known of but rarely understood in its historic and analytic context. Psychotherapeutic reflections are then offered on our understanding of the adult and adolescent with cancer, and the challenges of sustaining a thoughtful presence in the face of the trauma experienced both when a child is diagnosed with cancer and during treatment. The dilemmas and challenges faced by today's psychotherapist with cancer are explored next and, for the first time in cancer literature, an account of the emotional demands on nurses involved in sensitive, intimate care. With an increasing number of people living longer with cancer, “survivorship” and palliative care are the focus of the chapters that follow. As cancer is not the domain of any one discipline, The Topic of Cancer looks next at the nature of religious and spiritual experience in addressing the psychological needs of people with cancer, and then considers how a poet might address painful experience, such as having to confront the possibility of approaching death. Lastly the cancer memoir is explored as an increasingly contemporary means of coming to terms with the “emperor of all maladies”. This book focuses on our emotional responses to cancer by offering a range of perspectives: psychoanalytic, medical, spiritual and religious, as well as literary. Once suppressed, akin to a taboo, the topic of cancer is now very much in the public consciousness. The prevalence of the disease and well-publicised medical advances in its treatment demand it. Topic of Cancer begins with Freud's cancer, widely known of but rarely understood in its historic and analytic context. Psychotherapeutic reflections are then offered on our understanding of the adult and adolescent with cancer, and the challenges of sustaining a thoughtful presence in the face of the trauma experienced when a child is diagnosed with cancer, and during treatment. The dilemmas and challenges faced by today's psychotherapist with cancer are explored next and, for the first time in cancer literature, an account of the emotional demands on nurses involved in sensitive, intimate care. With an increasing number of people living longer with cancer, “survivorship” and palliative care are the focus of the chapters that follow. Contents 8 Foreword 20 Preface 26 Introduction 32 Part I - Bearing the Unbearable 38 CHAPTER ONE Freud’s cancer 40 CHAPTER TWO Understanding the patient with cancer 64 CHAPTER THREE The emotional impact of cancer on children and their families 86 CHAPTER FOUR What the illness may reveal 102 CHAPTER FIVE The ill psychotherapist: a wounded healer 114 CHAPTER SIX The cancer nurse specialists’ caseload: contending with the fretful elements 130 CHAPTER SEVEN On survivorship 146 CHAPTER EIGHT Palliative care: what, when, and how 162 CHAPTER NINE The nature of religious/spiritual concerns in addressing the psychological needs of people with cancer 178 Part II - Containment and Creativity 194 CHAPTER TEN Finding creative expression 196 CHAPTER ELEVEN The cancer memoir: in search of a writing cure 214 INDEX 240