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In today’s world, staying healthy, beautiful and happy means much more than absence of disease. Wellness abounds for women who want to take a preventive, empowered and fun approach to health. This means investing in ourselves and our lives – and for real benefit like lower healthcare expenses, and more energy so we can live life to the fullest. Real Women on Health! is all about supporting and encouraging women to shift their thinking from "being a patient" to being their own best health and wellness advocate. Our content partners are women's health advocacy groups like the National Women's Health Resource Center and the Women's Sexual Health Foundation - bringing credibility to all of our conversations. From breast cancer survivorship to weight management and osteoporosis, we provide the most credible information we find through our research and filter it through conversation and commentary. Join us in empowering women with the tools to live into wellness!
Date / Time: 11/4/2009 12:33 AM UTC
When I invited Lori and Sheryl to contribute to our Real Women on Health! community, I was struck by my naivite about talking to a loved one or friend who is coping with a cancer diagnosis.
But, that’s no longer.
I was with my dad when he was diagnosed with chronic myelogenous leukemia, a rare leukemia that is partially curable with Gleevec. In last month since his diagnosis, I’ve struggled to find a way to talk to him about anything…without being overly concerned or too dismissive, too humorous and too serious.
I’m feeling like there’s no perfect way to talk to a loved one or friend and much guilt about my own apparent health…. at least for today.
So, it was with relief when Sheryl Kraft outreached to me to see how we could collaborate on an upcoming radio show on how to help a friend with cancer. As a breast cancer survivor of many years and women’s health writer and advocate at HealthyWoman.org, Sheryl was enthusiastic about helping friends talk with their friends who might have just been diagnosed..or are in the throes of a long, active treatment cycle for any type of cancer.
Sheryl suggested we contact Lori Hope, Lung Cancer Survivor, and Author of “Help Me Live: 20 Things People with Cancer Want You to Know”.
Always the filmmaker, one of Lori’s first thoughts after being diagnosed with lung cancer was, “I should make a documentary about this.” When her therapist urged her to deal with the disease first and worry about documenting her journey later, Lori dropped the idea. But soon after, when a well-meaning friend said something to Lori that made her extremely anxious and when people continually asked her whether she had smoked, she thought "Someone really ought to write a book about what people with cancer need others to know!"
About nine months later, Ten Speed Press publisher Kirsty Melville took Lori's seminar on documentary production at Bay Area Video Coalition in San Francisco, and asked Lori whether she had ever considered writing a book. After several meetings, Help Me Live started to come to life.
Published by Celestial Arts, an imprint of Ten Speed Press, Help Me Live: 20 Things People with Cancer Want You to Know, tells intimate stories of words and actions that have made a tremendous difference to people with cancer. Designed to help caregivers, friends, and loved ones of cancer patients and survivors communicate more effectively and compassionately, Help Me Live does not prescribe behavior, but encourages compassion, respect, and listening.
Join Lori, Sheryl and Kelley in a "kitchen table conversation" and share your own story, struggles and victories in helping your friend with cancer of any kind.
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