The Journey Begins With Questions
My
breast cancer journey began with a phone call from my doctor. Perhaps
you're familiar with the words and the feelings that came crashing down
on me as soon as I heard these words:
I'm sorry to tell you this.
You have breast cancer.
Do you know what to do with
all the emotions that are swirling around in your mind and body? How do
you tell the people in your life that you have breast cancer? When will
the fear of recurrence go away?
Or perhaps you know someone who has recently received similar news.
A friend or relative is now facing decisions about possible surgeries
and treatments for breast cancer.
What is she feeling? How can
you help her? What does she need from you?
Maybe you're in the medical profession and every day you meet, counsel,
and care for women with breast cancer.
How does it feel to have breast
cancer? What is going through your patients' minds? Is there a way to
be with them that will truly make a difference in the healing of their
minds and spirits as well as their bodies?
There Are Answers
If you or someone you love is struggling with any of these questions, Bright Side of the Road has the answers for you!
My Story
My
name is Anne Marie Bennett, and at age 45,
I was diagnosed with breast cancer, following a suspicious mammogram
and stereotactic core biopsy.
Until then, my life had been humming merrily along in a vague
unsuspecting haze of family obligations, work duties, and daily chores.
My diagnosis brought me up short. I thought I knew what my life
was about. I thought I knew where my own path was heading. But I
quickly discovered that without an inner navigational system of
some sort, I was completely lost, stumbling in the dark.
And while I was busy making decisions
about surgeries and treatments and doctors, I also found myself facing
other, more subtle choices about how to travel this unwelcome
path that had been thrust upon me.
I saw that I could submit to my fears and my anger, stumbling along with
anxiety as a constant companion, or I could choose to create my own
journey, one that focused on the occasional sunset instead of the
frequent potholes, one that recognized an abundance of new
roads instead of the dead ends, and one that saw steep hills as
possibilities rather than dreaded roadblocks.
All of this was possible, I found,
because of two main things: allowing myself to feel my feelings
(along with not judging myself for feeling them) and
consciously choosing the thoughts that went through my mind every
day. I discovered that my day-to-day choices were very powerful in
the process of my healing.
My own journey with breast cancer included 2 surgeries, 12 weeks of
chemotherapy, and 45 radiation treatments. Throughout this journey, I
kept a journal and was unflinchingly honest with my thoughts and
feelings about everything that happened to me. It was not an easy
journey, but I believe that my experiences and discoveries can
make your journey with breast cancer a bit lighter and yes....
even a little more joyful.
The book Bright Side of the Road is shaped like a journal. And
because it is written in the first person, present tense, it is
intimate. You feel like you are going through exactly what I'm
going through. You hear my own inner thoughts (and all of them, not
just the nice ones!); you are with me when I feel afraid, angry,
anxious, and lonely, as well as when I feel excitement, peace,
and joy. You hear my immediate reactions to everything that is
happening to me along the way.
Topics that aren't usually talked about are important parts of this
book. These topics include: doctor-patient relationships, sexuality,
fear of recurrence, anger, and how to tell people that you have cancer.
My own unique inner navigational system is what enabled me to
walk on the "bright side of the road" with my breast cancer. This inner
system included: following my intuition, being comfortable with
solitude, giving myself time to play with words and art, journaling,
visualization, using affirmations, and learning to lean on others
for support and love.
I created this book from my heart and
soul, and now offer it to you for your own journey, whether you are a
patient with breast cancer, a friend or family member of
someone with cancer, or someone in the medical field who works
with breast cancer patients every day. My dearest wish is for all
women with breast cancer to be able to find their own "bright side of
the road" on their individual journeys.
Why You Should Read
This Book
Bright Side of the Road will give you:
* a deep knowing and reassurance that whatever you are thinking and feeling about breast cancer is okay
* a candid,
personal account of what my breast cancer
journey was like, including my thoughts and
feelings
before, during and after my surgeries, chemo
sessions, and radiation treatments
* an intimate view inside the mind, body, heart and soul of a woman who has gone before you on this unexpected journey
* a companion,
an experienced hand to hold
on this unforeseen, often bewildering road that is breast cancer
* a new expectation of your diagnosis as a prescription
for new
joy and possibility
* wisdom,
humor and grace to help you through even the
darkest days
* insights into how you too can travel this challenging journey on the bright sideof the road
* specific actions to take that will enable you to move through your fears and
remain true to your most authentic self
* a way
to contribute to a good
cause.... we donate 20%
of
the proceeds from the sale of this book to
The Healing
Garden, a nonprofit community of support
and healing for women with breast cancer
People Are Talking!
Look what people are saying about this
inspiring, down-to-earth,
intimate, amazing book:
The true heart of the book is the author's
honesty and openness. She
holds nothing back as she tells her story. Women who are beginning this
journey as well as women who are in the thick of treatments or finished
with treatments altogether will benefit from the author's candid telling
of her own story. She doesn't
just "get through" the surgery and treatments, she finds a way to be
present through them... she finds a way to live.
--- Fran Booth
Social Worker, Therapist, Meditation Teacher
The Healing Garden,
Harvard, MA
******
Reading Bright Side
of the Road was like being
inside the mind and body of every one of my breast cancer patients.
I definitely understand now what it's like on the other side of the bed.
--- Dr. Stephen Karp, Breast Cancer Surgeon
Lahey Clinic, Massachusetts
******
This book is
captivating and
engaging, an
educational tool as well.
Anne Marie has a tone and style that
supports, inspires, and
educates.
--- Carolyn L.
3-Time Breast Cancer Survivor, Nurse, Yoga teacher
Lenox, MA
******
Reading this book makes me want to see the world through Anne
Marie's eyes- so perceptive and descriptive and appreciative of every
detail. Even when she felt 'down' on her journey, she let herself
FEEL that, and that is what made the difference in her healing. My own
journey with cancer was very difficult, and I haven't been able yet to
be grateful for the changes that the cancer brought to me.
This story makes me want to find
that bright side of
the road for myself.
--- Dawn Hull, Breast Cancer Survivor
St. Peters, MO
******
I couldn't stop reading it because I couldn't wait to see what
happened next on Anne Marie's journey. I found that
I could apply her ways of coping
to my own life, even though I don't have cancer. When I finished
it, I immediately bought another copy and sent it to my friend who is
going through breast cancer treatments right now.
--- Angela S.
CPA, mother of two
Virginia Beach, VA
******
Whether you're a patient, care-giver, or in the medical field,
you will be blessed by this
story of one woman who faced the fact of breast cancer, and
not only survived, but learned
in the process to shine on the
bright side of the road.
--- Lily S.
Breast Cancer Survivor, Theological Student
Los Angeles, CA
$15.00
$7.50
(50% Discount for KaleidoSoul Members Only!)
6 Month
Guarantee
If you read
Bright Side of the Road and it doesn't help you on your own breast cancer journey,
(or help you help someone else with theirs),
we'll give you a full refund
within 6 months of purchase.
That's how much we believe
in the power of this book
to heal, to renew, to inspire, to transform.
Refunds handled through:
annemarie@KaleidoSoul.com
