Breast Cancer as a Sacred Love Journey - Softcover

Elam, Jennifer J

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0971652597 ISBN 13: 9780971652590

Publisher: Way Opens Press, 2016

Synopsis

Breast Cancer as a Sacred Love Journey is a compilation of 74 uplifting stories that serve as an inspirational and informational guide - from diagnosis to surgery to chemo to radiation and what comes after treatment. Although the journey is not fun, it is also not necessarily an experience of severe suffering. The writings are spiritual but not overtly religious in nature - but also do not ignore the possibility of using ones' religious inspirations to help if that is part of the reader's life. By reading the stories, a woman newly diagnosed with breast cancer can find her way through, with others as loving companions. Those who have been through cancer will see their cancer differently by reading these stories. The stories are attractively accompanied by the author's art and poetry created while traveling through breast cancer.

There were an estimated 297,000 new cases of breast can or carcinoma in situ in 2013 - the year of the author's breast cancer. For every woman, there are untold numbers of relatives and friends feeling great fear and anxiety. The fear and anxiety can be replaced with hope and strength. Medical professionals and breast cancer organizations will love this book for their patients!

The stories provide lessons in, for examples:

• The nitty gritty of doing the day-to-day and left-right-left-right of breast cancer while continuing to live our lives as fully as possible, inviting others to join in,
• The nitty gritty of the author's thinking and being states as she moved through cancer; the reader is invited to laugh, cry, and be present to doing the journey,
• Making life-enhancing/life-giving decisions as we move through treatment,
• Strategies for being in painful situations and not letting pain take over our lives,
• Giving ourselves permission to receive from others as well as to give,
• Effectively reaching out and living cancer out loud in ways that bless ourselves as well as others,
• Using creativity to keep close to the life-giving force within,
• Using spiritual stories from our past or present in inspirational ways, and
• Acknowledging and going through the fear, anxiety, and grief that are natural parts of this journey THEN coming out the other side to joy.

About this title

Review:

I found these stories deeply moving. They made me laugh, they made me cry, and they transformed how I look back at my two cancers. I can't thank you enough for writing this book and sharing it with me. The stories flow beautifully. I read it and felt blessed by it. --Jan, survivor breast and bladder cancers I had breast cancer. Then I had bladder cancer. I read Breast Cancer as a Sacred Love Journey. Now I see the cancers differently. Now I see that miracles have happened. And now I track miracles. Jan A (from survivor to thriver) Jen shares her very personal journey through breast cancer diagnosis and treatment in a way that will lift, inspire, and encourage the reader. Whether you're walking the same path she traveled or facing a different challenge, her story will inspire you to look within, seek help, release control, and have faith. Dolores Magro, PA Breast Cancer Coalition Jennifer is a woman of indomitable spirit. I think having breast cancer may have helped her realize how deeply this is true. It certainly helped me to recognize her indefatigable spirit. When she was diagnosed with cancer, instead of collapsing and withdrawing from it, she expanded and embraced her life and world in a huge way. I have never seen anybody do this before! And in her courage and openness, I think cancer had to take a back seat to her love! Sally M I am always a bit surprised to be reminded that Jen, who embodies the soul of what I might call "the style of funkychic" and the sense of fun to go with it, also embodies a moral compass of unfailing precision. She takes her ethical direction seriously, and can be counted on to find a way when the path is unclear and the light has dimmed. Nancy S (lung cancer thriver) Jennifer is a gatherer - of people, of joy, of creativity. In this powerful collection, she shares the feelings and events of her sacred love tsunami and thereby gathers up the reader too. Audrey F Jennifer allowed us to enter such a personal, private place on her journey and I commend her for allowing her story to be a resource of inspiration and support for so many women going through breast cancer. When Jen shares her story- she shares so much more as well: Hope, Compassion, Trials, and Faith. Sue Weldon, Unite for HER

About the Author:

Dr. Jennifer Elam has served as a psychologist for over 30 years. She has been a leader in her field and has received many best practice awards. For the past 15 years, she has also led arts and spirituality retreats for both artists and non-artists. She is uniquely qualified to write this book as a psychologist, a person committed to a deep spiritual journey, and as a breast cancer thriver. As a university professor for many years, she is experienced and comfortable when engaged in public speaking. She has a website/blogsite set up to link her writings to social media.

About this edition

• Publisher: Way Opens Press
• Publication date: 2016
• ISBN 10: 0971652597
• ISBN 13: 9780971652590
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 116