Surviving Childhood Cancer: A Guide for Families » (1st Edition)

Margot Joan Fromer is the author of a dozen nonfiction books on health and medicine, as well as many magazine and journal articles. Her subjects range from AIDS to health policy to women’s health issues. She has also published two novels, which are mysteries with a medical twist, and is at work on a third. Ms. Fromer teaches health writing and journalistic research at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. She lives in Silver Spring, Maryland.

The outlook for children with cancer has improved greatly in the past several decades. Still, cancer in a child is an overwhelming experience for a family. Surviving Childhood Cancer: A Guide for Families describes the illness, its treatment, and how it changes the lives of both the child with cancer and his or her family. Although there is no simple recipe for survival, there are ways to make the experience of cancer more bearable. Written with great sensitivity and understanding, this book provides practical advice about

• how to cope with emotions and stress
• how to handle communication about the illness with the child as well as with family members, friends, classmates, employers, and others
• where to obtain information and help
• how to develop honest and trusting relationships with medical caregivers

Interwoven throughout the text are many insightful and inspirational stories of those who have faced and survived cancer. Through these stories, the reader learns how others have not only gotten through the ordeal but also emerged from it stronger and more aware of what is truly important in life.

Elaine Morgan

This is a sensitive and informative new book written by a health writer that provides a comprehensive description of the events surrounding the diagnosis of childhood cancer and its impact on the child, extended family, and friends. The purpose is to provide a description of the process of cancer -- what actually happens -- and how this impacts on child, family, and friends. It also provides practical hints on how to survive the experience as well as a guide to available resources. This is clearly important information, and the objectives are met in an understandable, complete, and sensitive manner. The major targeted audience for this book is the family and patient affected by childhood cancer. However, the breadth and insight of information could prove to be interesting and valuable to all caregivers of such children. The author is a knowledgeable health field writer and has selected individuals with a great deal of experience in the field as sources of information. The book is well formatted in clearly titled sections and is replete with illustrative and insightful case studies that enhance the presentation and provide material to which readers can personally relate. The references are modest in number but are current, relevant, and adequate for the intended audience. There is a helpful glossary of medical terminology as well as a practical list of resources. This is an understandable, informative, accurate description of all the components of the childhood cancer experience from the patient's viewpoint. There is accurate factual explanation of the significant medical aspects of the experience. This book will reach out to and be a valuable source of information for families involvedin this experience and meets an overwhelming need of these families for such a resource. In addition, it could provide caregivers with insight into their patients' overall experience.

The diagnosis. Emotions. Aftermath of the diagnosis. What cancer is. Treatment. Information and practical help. Help for parents and children. Adapting and coping. Family and friends. Siblings and grandparents. Paying for treatment. School. The long haul. Ethical issues. Appendix A: Resources. Appendix B: Glossary. Appendix C: Bibliography. Index.