Are you a newly diagnosed cancer patient or are you caring for someone who is?
Are you going through cancer treatment and wondering where to turn for practical tips on coping?
Have you finished cancer treatment only to find yourself asking, now what?
Do you fear recurrence and wonder what you can do to try to prevent it?
Do you want to limit your exposure to toxins in your environment and personal care products?
If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, please keep reading and enter my giveaway for a chance to win a free copy of When Cancer Hits by Britta Aragon.
When Cancer Hits is a user-friendly, comprehensive and practical guide to help you or a loved one make your way through cancer treatment. It is full of suggestions on how to take better care of yourself by managing side effects, staying active, coping with stress, complementing your treatment, protecting yourself from environmental hazards and finding solutions for things like hair-loss and skin problems that work for YOU.
However, the best thing about When Cancer Hits, in my opinion, is that the author delivers her advice and suggestions with compassion, understanding and gentleness.
Britta Aragon understands the vulnerability many cancer patients feel. She understands because she’s been there. Britta was diagnosed herself with Hodgkin’s disease when she was only sixteen years old. She underwent chemotherapy and experienced firsthand side effects like hair-loss and weight gain. Britta understands how cancer turns all aspects of your life up-side-down.
As well as experiencing cancer herself, Britta was also a care giver to her beloved father, who battled cancer for eight years and ultimately passed away in 2008. She poignantly shares about her personal experiences, giving us insights into why she has become a passionate advocate. Her mission to help others is very personal and she dedicates her work to her father’s legacy.
When Cancer Hits has a well thought-out format. Each chapter begins with an inspirational quote, introduces and then expands upon a topic, goes on to offer practical usable solutions and ends with a “Let’s Review” summary. Many chapters also include a personal reflection or goal setting section and all end with meaningful personal affirmations one can utilize.
One of my favorite affirmations is the following:
“I accept whatever feelings come up, and I’m gentle with myself in dealing with them. I know they are just feelings and that they will pass.”
It’s probably no surprise that I was immediately drawn to chapter 12, “Your Prevention Plan: Tips to Lower Risk of Recurrence.” Britta offers specific steps to mentally work your way through fears and also offers suggestions for pro-active things to implement to try to prevent recurrence. She doesn’t judge, tell you to just stay positive or attempt to brush away the fears.
My favorite words in the entire book (probably no surprise to anyone who’s been reading my blog) just might be these from page 64:
“Cancer is not a test you have to pass. You don’t have to put on your game face and proclaim to the world that you’re a winner, and you don’t have to be “positive” all the time.”
Amen to that!
The book concludes with seven appendixes offering further helpful resources the reader can refer to. If you’re like me and want to choose less harmful make-up products for instance, but are feeling over-whelmed and have no idea where to start, these appendixes are perfect starting points.
In conclusion, if you have had a cancer diagnosis yourself, have a loved one who has or simply wish to live a healthier life-style, When Cancer Hits can help.
Britta sums it up well:
“Cancer will change you, but never let it make you believe you are anything but whole, precious and worthy of the best solutions you can find. No matter what your fate, you deserve to enjoy the highest quality of life possible. Listen to yourself, follow your intuitions and never give up.”
Well said.
If you would like a chance to win a free copy of When Cancer Hits by Britta Aragon, please leave a comment below by midnight (CST) Monday, February 27, 2012 and your name will be included in the drawing. If you’d like another chance to win, also leave a comment on my Nancy’s Point Facebook page. The winner will be announced shortly thereafter.
Thank you for reading and good luck to those who enter!
About the author
Britta Aragon is a cancer survivor, entrepreneur, natural beauty expert and founder of Cinco Vidas, a lifestyle brand of services that helps cancer fighters, survivors and caregivers deal with the many challenges of a cancer diagnosis and treatment. She also passionately advocates for increasing awareness of carcinogens in food, the environment and personal care products.
Why would you like to win a copy of When Cancer Hits?
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Dianne Duffy
Sounds like a wonderful resource! The fear of recurrence is something that bothers me everyday!
Nancy
Dianne, It is a wonderful resource and I understand that fear. Good luck in my drawing!
Paula Mccoy
I am a breast cancer survivor and I still sometimes ask myself now what? I also do worry about recurrence when something doesn’t seem right. would love to read this book.
Nancy
Paula, Yes, that “now what?” question is something we all relate to very well and keep asking ourselves isn’t it? I know what you mean about the recurrence worries. You are not alone in that either! Thanks for participating in my drawing. Good luck!
Linda
Sounds like a great book, thanks for the review.
Nancy
Linda, You’re welcome and it is!
Betty
Sounds like an interesting book.
Nancy
Betty, It’s a very good resource. Lots of information in one place. Thanks for the comment.
AnneMarie @chemobrainfog
Hey Nancy,
Britta’s book is amazing and now I’m going to be shameless on her behalf for all those who read your blog. I had the absolute HONOR and privilege of meeting Britta and spending a few hours with her a couple of months back. We were a small group and we chatted as if we’d known each other forever. She is warm and compassionate and just a very special young woman! Your blog reaches MANY and I am thrilled you chose to devote a post about Britta.
Love & hugs,
AnneMarie
Nancy
Ann Marie, Thanks so much for sharing about your personal experience meeting Britta. I was very struck by her caring and compassionate advice delivered with gentleness. She sounds like a lovely person. Lucky you for getting the chance to meet and chat with her!
Pat Elliott
As a two time cancer survivor I know it can not only hit, it can hit more than once. While treatment was of short duration and ended 20 years ago for the first cancer (breast cancer), my second one (leukemia) is treated for life via daily oral chemotherapy. There are very few resources to assist those of us who will never see an “end” of treatment, I’m hoping this book includes information that helps us and look forward to reading it to find out, as Britta’s blog has been an invaluable resource in building my “new normal” as a lifelong cancer patient.
Nancy
Pat, I’m glad you have found Britta’s blog to be so helpful, her book is as well. You’re absolutely right, cancer can and does too often hit more than once. Thanks for making that important point. I hope you are doing alright. Thank you so much for participating in my giveaway contest. Best wishes to you.
Lindsay
Of course, I want in on this contest.
Nancy
Lindsay, OK then, count yourself in! Thanks for entering!
Krystal
Britta,
I am a newly diagnosed breast cancer patient, I just had my first round of chemotherapy yesterday. Everything is new to me my medication schedule, nutritious foods to combat nausea, eventual hairloss, loss of work. Fortunately, I have a huge team of family & friends who are supporting me every step in my journey.
Best wishes to you
Nancy
Krystal, It’s a lot to deal with isn’t it? I’m so glad you have lots of support. Good luck to you with everything and thanks for commenting! Keep us posted on how things are going.
Jan Baird Hasak
I’d love to win a copy of “When Cancer Hits” because I’m always interested in the viewpoint of someone else whose life has been ravaged by cancer. Thanks for enlightening your readers about this fantastic opportunity and promising read. XOXO Jan
Nancy
Jan, You’re like me I guess. I just can’t read enough about it either. I love reading experiences of others. Thanks for entering!
BreastCancerSisterhood.com
Britta is a great resource so I’m glad you’ve reviewed her book. The “Let’s Review” end of chapter summary is so smart.
I’d love to win one of her books, so please put my name in the hat!
XOXOXO,
Brenda
Nancy
Brenda, You’re in! Thanks!
TC
Nancy – thank you for the heads up on this book and author. With MBC, I am constantly “looking over my shoulder” to see if cancer is catching up with me. I had a colleague who just underwent intense radiation for non-Hogkins Lymphoma. I will suggest this book to her.
((Hugs))
Nancy
TC, I understand about that “looking over the shoulder” thing. I do it too! I’m sorry about your colleague. This book might just help her. Thanks for taking part in my giveaway. Good luck and hugs back to you!
Mary
Nancy, thanks for sharing this book! It sounds like a fabulous resource. I especially like the reassuring tone that it’s OK not to be upbeat 24/7. While I prefer to be optimistic, cancer continues to cross my mind daily, however briefly. I hope you’re enjoying some well deserved R&R! You’ll have to share with us what helped you re-charge.
Nancy
Mary, I know what you mean about the optimism thing and the expectation that if you just stay positive, things will turn out alright. So not true. This doesn’t mean we are negative people does it? I always say I’m a realist, big difference! Thanks for commenting and entering this giveaway. Thanks for the good wishes too! I’ll definitely be sharing later!
Debbie
This sounds like a wonderful book and a fantastic resource to those living with cancer. I’m nearing the end of my treatment–only one more to go!–and while I’m relieved to be at this point, I know the thought of recurrence will be with me and something I will have to learn to deal with. I’ve learned how precious my life is, and I want to make sure I enjoy it from now on and don’t take a single day for granted.
Nancy
Debbie, It is a great resource packed full of useful information. Congrats on finishing up treatment. You’ve reached an important milestone, but of course, things are never quite the same from here on out are they? Thanks so much for entering my giveaway contest! Good luck!
debby
I keep myself pretty busy during the daylight hours, but sometimes at night, I’ll wake up and my hip will be aching or there will be that odd pain that seems to come deep beneath my scapula and hurts so badly that I can’t get comfortable, and there in the dark, I do worry about the ‘what ifs’.
Britta sounds very philosophical, and I would love to have a copy of her book.
Nancy
Debby, Yes, many of us are all too familiar with those night-time demons aren’t we? Fear seems to lurk around more easily in the wee hours that’s for sure. Thanks for entering my giveaway!
Kimberly Parker
Because I am a recent college graduate who struggled with keeping it a secret and telling people around me so I wouldn’t get in trouble by my college administrators. Now that I have graduated I am continuing to struggle to share my story.
Nancy
Kimberly, I’m sorry you have had to keep things a secret. That’s an additional burden you shouldn’t have to bear. I can’t even imagine such a thing. Hope things are going alright for you by now. Thanks for stopping by.