New Mexico Review of Books July 18, 2014
A Title with a Double Meaning, A Book with a Path to Healing
“GETTING THINGS OFF MY CHEST: A Survivor’s Guide to Staying Fearless and Fabulous in the Face of Breast Cancer” by Melanie Young ($14.99 Cedar Fort Inc.)
Review by Suzy Caplan
Loved this book and its complete “what to expect” overview that it offers to anyone who has been diagnosed with breast cancer. The book is easy and fun to read, and most of all, relatable. From helping you to identify important questions to ask your physicians, to understanding the importance of a support network of friends and family, it offers helpful advice to getting through all that is involved with the treatment of breast cancer. I found the author’s straight forward writing to be helpful, informative and educational. A bonus was the many personalized accounts written by other cancer patients giving the reader an even broader view of treatment. When one is diagnosed with breast cancer, as I was, it’s difficult to determine where to start in the book ….. what you need to know, how to obtain the best care.
Still,”Getting Things off Your Chest” is a perfect way to begin one’s journey through dealing with breast cancer and the process of healing. Be sure to pick up a copy as soon as you are diagnosed. You’ll be glad you armed yourself with its prudent guidance and foresight in getting through the treatment of breast cancer with knowledge and dignity.
Link to review: http://nmreviewofbooks.wordpress.com/
Getting Cancer Off Your Chest | Breast Cancer Roundup, September 1, 2013
Young, Melanie. Getting Things Off My Chest: A Survivor’s Guide to Staying Fearless & Fabulous in the Face of Breast Cancer. Plain Sight: Cedar Fort. Sept. 2013. 256p. ISBN 9781462113231. pap. $16.99. HEALTH
Owner of a wine and food marketing and special events business, Young was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009. She employs her skills as a traveler (studying guidebooks), event planner (making lists), businesswoman (noting the bottom line), and a human being (knowing when to be strong and when to ask for help), along with a healthy dose of humor, to cover the steps involved in approaching the disease and creating a plan to get through it. Lots of details and solid advice.
9/26/2013- Thank you Shauna Wheelwright,
“This book is an AMAZING treasure of INCREDIBLE information for anyone going through breast cancer….It is also a REALLY INFORMATIVE book for anyone who knows someone with breast cancer.
http://ilovetoreadandreviewbooks.blogspot.com/2013/09/getting-things-off-my-chest.html
Literary R&R
November 3, 2013
If you know anyone that is facing breast cancer, run, do not walk, and purchase this for them!
Written by a survivor, using other survivors’ experience, and a healthy dose of humor, Ms. Young has written THE go-to book for breast cancer awareness. Anything, and everything, a patient needs to know is inside, and written in a direct, informative text, without the medical journal feel.
Beginning with “It took losing my breasts to find my voice,” and with chapters covering everything from “Digesting your diagnosis,” “This is your brain on chemo,” to “Making cancer a positive life sentence,” it guides every step of the cancer process. There is not enough positive I can say, except I plan on purchasing these and handing them out to local hospitals so that they may have this resource on hand.
5 out of 5 stars!