Speak the Language of Healing: Living With Breast Cancer Without Going to War (New Approach to Breast Cancer)

One woman in four will be diagnosed with breast cancer over the course of her life, yet the current language of cancer therapy is profoundly unfeminine, urging patients to take a macho stance and fight the "battle" of their lives. Many women say this military terminology makes them feel like they are at war with themselves, and that those who survive the competition are winners and those who die are losers.

Speak the Language of Healing seeks to offer readers a new, replacement language of healing and learning. It contains a study guide with exercises and questions to be used as each chapter is read and shares the stories and insights of four baby boomers who were treated for breast cancer. Susan, Carol, Linda, and Karen hail from different spiritual backgrounds--one is Christian, one Jewish, one Sufi, and one 12-Step--but each sought to use cancer as a catalyst for a deeper understanding of life. These women suggest that one can take a spiritual journey through cancer and in the process gain a greater appreciation for the sacredness of each breath.

Hailed by Richard Carlson, author of Don't Sweat the Small Stuff, as "a thought-provoking must-read about the 'big stuff'," it's a wonderful resource for women with breast cancer--and for interested individuals who want to learn a new way of offering support to those who are ill. --Nancy Monson