RESOURCES
Sharing the resources that helped me throughout my journey. Hoping that it would be helpful to you, family member or friend who has been diagnosed with cancer.
BOOKS
This is a wonderful book to teach little kids about cancer. My kids were only 8 and 5 when I was diagnosed. I used this book to explain what to expect and also some of the medical terms. It has images so they could visualize everything. I didn't want them to over hear from things from someone and be afraid so when I was diagnosed I used this book to explain to them about my sickness and what to expect.
This is a wonderful book that gives hope to a patient or caregiver during the cancer treatment. The author is a stage 3 cancer survivor herself who became a patient advocate in her oncologists office and also shares stories of other advanced stage cancer survivors. It has bible verses, words of encouragement and I could relate a lot to her journey(the thoughts, fears, frustrations, anger, etc) and I am sure every cancer patient will.
After my frontline treatment was over, I was really struggling to cope. This book helped me at that time. Usually when a person has recovered from an illness or surgery they are back to their normal life but that is not the case after a cancer treatment. Well meaning friends and family says things to you that would be frustrating and annoying. This book really helped me to not take people's words in a negative way and look at it from a different perspective there by helping find peace and cope better. This book would also be helpful for someone who is grieving the loss of a loved one.
The author is a stage 4 cancer survivor. She outlines alternative treatments using supplements and off-label medications that worked for her when conventional cancer treatments didn't work. Through her own research she found ways to starve cancer and beat the terminal diagnosis. It's a very inspiring book and also gives hope that even when conventional cancer treatments fail there are other options that you can try to fight cancer.
This book has encouraging words and bible verses. The author is a Stage 3 cancer survivor who used nutrition and and natural therapies to heal himself.
WEBSITES
I attended free virtual workshops like skin care and makeup, wigs and head coverings, body image and styling and nail care. Attending these workshops really helped me to look good and not feel like a very sick person.
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From their website:
Look Good Feel Better is a non-medical, brand-neutral public service program that teaches beauty techniques to people with cancer to help them manage the appearance-related side effects of cancer treatment. The program includes lessons on skin and nail care, cosmetics, wigs and turbans, accessories and styling, helping people with cancer to find some normalcy in a life that is by no means normal.
Facebook groups
There are lot of cancer groups available on facebook. By joining the Ovarian Cancer Facebook group, I could read stories about other advanced stage survivors who have been surviving for 15-20 years. As per the statistics available online, the prognosis for advanced Ovarian cancer is 5 years. So reading the stories of people in the group gave hope. I learned tips and tricks to manage my side effects, treatment options, get advice when doctors don't have any and also see other people in your same age group and situations. Been really helpful!!