Cancer and chemo

Cancer is hard but chemo can be harder. Cancer changes everything. Relationships change, bodies change and our worlds change. A cancer diagnosis can make us feel alone as we face fears of dying, the unknown and what will happen to ‘me’. Add on top of that, a fear of cancer treatments and their side-effects.

Finding out that you need to do chemo is huge. Many of us are scared of doing chemo and how it will affect us. It is easy to feel depressed, anxious, overwhelmed and uncertain about the path ahead. And sometimes it’s hard to find the right resources to guide and help.

Writer, founder of Breast Cancer Nirvana and The Joy Agency, and two-time cancer survivor, Andrea Fairbairn, explains what really helps you get through cancer treatment:

This book provides support and comfort through life’s most difficult conversations and situations. It provides answers to all your questions and fears and shows you how to stay afloat, strong, resilient and optimistic through all that life can throw at you.

With Chemo and Back Again, you are able to come to acceptance, peace and even joy with cancer, regardless of the outcome.

Chemo and Back Again has been written for men and women diagnosed with cancer or going through treatment, those who’ve finished treatment, and those who are living with or dying from cancer.

Here to help lighten the load

Chemo and Back Again has been designed to make you feel as good as possible and give you hope during one of life’s most difficult times. The book:

• provides guidance and tips on how to ‘do’ cancer, chemo and recovery
• contains lots of practical tips on keeping as healthy and happy as possible during chemo, and
• helps alleviate fears of chemo, cancer and the side effects of chemo

Chemo and Back Again has been designed to sit on your lap during and after chemo, and give you hope and joy during the difficult days. The book is in full colour throughout with inspiring images for you to look at before, during and after chemo.

Reviews

In Chemo and Back Again, Andrea has shared her experience and offered advice which has truly made a difference to my own experience with thyroid cancer. Even through I experienced a different cancer, her wisdom at particular stages, whether it be after an operation, treatment or recovery, totally changed how I dealt with these times. It helped beyond words.

She gave me the perspective, especially with allowing myself recovery time, and not putting pressure on myself to get better faster than I was able. Andrea also helped me to communicate to others around me, allowing me space and time to move forward with nurturing and healing. It was key advice during a time when it’s very difficult to have perspective.  Andrea L, cancer survivor, New Zealand

Chemo and Back Again is a great book. Women have said there is something really valuable about the shared experience they feel on reading the book that their friends and family who haven’t had cancer ‘just don’t get’. It is a very well-written account which captures the real-life experiences Andrea encountered. The common concerns about the impact of breast cancer and chemo e.g. decision-making, what to do about work, the emotional roller-coaster and coping with fatigue, are discussed in a matter of fact way, giving a sense that while this is an incredibly tough time, you can get through it. Andrea gives really practical tips throughout the book along with excellent information and a lot of reflection on how she managed. Highly recommended.  Julie Holt – Cancer Information Nurse, Cancer Society, Wellington, New Zealand

In Chemo and Back Again, Andrea gives hope and acceptance to its readers. Her writing allows us to accept where we are in our treatment pathway but also understand what lies ahead.  Her writing of real and everyday life brings a normality to life and an awareness and appreciation of what the future may hold.  Patricia Field -National Educator,  The New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation

Andrea’s book Chemo and Back Again was a revelation. It is a privilege to read her journey and I feel it has given me an insight into what one must go through to fight cancer. This is an important book not only for those with a diagnosis, but for every other person who they will interact with; in the family, workplace and in life in general. This book has given me a level of compassion and understanding that I just didn’t have before.  Serena Star Leonard – Author, Social Entrepreneur, Travel Kids Club