I Am Not My Breast Cancer

January 7, 2008
Peltason, an editor and breast cancer survivor, founded and hosted the “First Person Plural” Web site project, an online forum for women facing the disease. Their dialogue provides the content for this book, culled from the entries of 800 women across the U.S. and around the world. Peltason organizes the material into three general parts: “Diagnosis,” “Living with Breast Cancer” and “The Big Picture,” with such subtopics as “Sharing the News,” “Being Womanly” and “Anniversaries and Milestones.” Participants use screen names for privacy, approaching their disease with candor and freely discussing their feelings about their bodies and their relationships. At times, those overcome by anger and fear far outweigh those with a bright outlook, but when these survivors “look in the mirror” at the conclusion of the text, many envision a hopeful future. Perhaps the most poignant entries are from younger women, some of whom have been driven into early menopause and infertility by chemotherapy. Although this is an informative book, some survivors may discover that these raw entries churn up disturbing emotions; others will find comfort in these voices, and in the knowledge that they aren’t alone—either in their sorrow or in their strength and courage.

September 1, 2008
"A moving and comforting book]. Consumer health libraries looking to develop psychological-support literature should definitely consider." (Xpress Reviews, 1/22/08; http: //iamnotmybreastcancer.notlong.com)

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