- With Mayo Clinic nurse educator
Sheryl M. Ness, R.N.
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Sheryl M. Ness, R.N.
Sheryl M. Ness
Sheryl Ness, R.N., O.C.N., is a nurse educator for the Cancer Education Program at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. She helps inform patients, families and caregivers about services and resources to help them through the cancer journey.
She has a master's degree in nursing from Augsburg College. In addition, she is an assistant professor of oncology at the College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, and is certified as a specialist in oncology nursing. Sheryl has worked for more than 20 years at Mayo Clinic as an educator. She has a keen interest in the importance of the quality of life and concerns of people living with cancer.
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Living with cancer blog
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Jan. 12, 2013
Check out these favorite books on cancer survivorship
By Sheryl M. Ness, R.N.
This week, I thought I'd talk about favorite books. I often have people ask me what my favorite resources are related to cancer survivorship. There are a few books that we use on a daily or weekly basis in our education practice here at Mayo Clinic. A few favorites:
- Picking Up the Pieces: Moving Forward After Surviving Cancer, by Sherri Magee and Kathy Scalzo. This book includes chapters on the entire spectrum of survivorship from the initial diagnosis to long-term survivorship. I love this book because it addresses the real issues experienced by cancer survivors and provides practical ideas for dealing with the physical, emotional and spiritual changes with holistic healing as the goal.
- 100 Questions & Answers About Life After Cancer: A Survivor's Guide, by Page Tolbert and Penny Damaskos. This book includes sections addressing emotions, communication, workplace and legal concerns, sexuality and healthy strategies for the long term after treatment is over.
- The Mayo Clinic Book of Alternative Medicine is another favorite. Many survivors are interested in integrating natural therapies with conventional medicine. This book is written by Mayo Clinic experts and provides up-to-date information on how therapies such as herbal supplements, vitamins and minerals, meditation, and other mind-body strategies can help you deal with the side effects of cancer and stay healthy.
- The American Cancer Society Complete Guide to Nutrition for Cancer Survivors is an excellent resource for eating well and staying well during and after cancer. Nutrition is a common concern for cancer patients. This book provides practical information on how to deal with the nutritional challenges that cancer patients may experience during treatment. The book is evidenced-based and highlights research and studies related to nutrition and the cancer survivor.
- Zest for Life: The Mediterranean Anti-Cancer Diet, by Conner Middelmann-Whitney is an excellent cookbook based on the Mediterranean Diet. The book outlines a variety of healthy recipes along with a weekly meal planner, shopping list and other resources to help you explore the benefits of a Mediterranean Diet.
Do you have a favorite book as a cancer survivor? Feel free to share with others through the blog.
Follow me on Twitter at @SherylNess1. Join the discussion at #livingwithcancer.
11 comments posted
February 6, 2013 4:39 p.m.
I'm currently a cancer patient. I would like the book on nutrition but it doesn't give me the option to open or buy. Since cancer has already taken over my breast, I want to take charge of my healing thru proper nutrition and natural way or holistic way.
- Remy
February 5, 2013 8:14 p.m.
"CHEMORELLA" (or Spanish title "Quimiorela") by Ken Phillips & Katy Franco. It's a fresh, humorous take on the Cinderella story, but this heroine has breast cancer and is pretty, witty -- and bald. Katy is a Latina actress, comic, certified laughter leader, breast cancer survivor/awareness activist who used humor and creativity to get through her cancer, aided by her then-boyfriend, now husband Ken Phillips. The book is beautifully illustrated and is bilingual, Spanish and English side by side. www.chemorella.com (I am not a survivor but know many people, including children, who have been uplifted by this book.)
- Flo
February 1, 2013 7:34 a.m.
I love "The Cancer Journey - Positive Steps to Help Yourself Heal" by Polly Noble, Dr Pam Evans and Nicholas Hull-Malham. It was very useful to me and my family while going through chemo as you can pick it up and put it down. Its really easy to read and has some very practical ideas of how to improve your healing. It addressed all my concerns and queries and really makes you feel that you are definitely not alone on this journey. http://www.thecancerjourneybook.com
- Tara
January 31, 2013 7:45 p.m.
"Picking up the Pieces" by Sherri Magee is the best book I've read on dealing with the aftershocks of any cancer. I'm a 25 year survivor too and have read lots, but this one has addressed so many of my concerns. Good for you for recommending it!
- Gail
January 31, 2013 6:47 p.m.
I like the Anti-Cancer book too. Also found the book "Your Brain After Chemo" to be very helpful. After months of hearing clinicians say "Oh yeah, that happens" without giving you much you could do about it, this book gave some very practical suggestions. I found them very empowering.
- Kathy
January 31, 2013 5:29 p.m.
Like Susie Dancing in Limbo has been very helpful for me. Too many other things I have read have so emphasized the need for being positive that they make it sound like having a tough recovery is mostly your fault. They and the people they have interviewed obviously have been through the actual experience.
- Phil
January 31, 2013 1:44 p.m.
A favorite: Happiness In a Storm: Facing Illness and Embracing Life as a Healthy Survivor by Wendy Hapham. She is an Int Medicine MD dealing with recurring NHL (non-Hodgkin's Lympoma) and LIFE (career, family, kids). Especially helpful with the "chemobrain" issue when it persists after treatment ends.
- Debby
January 31, 2013 12:58 p.m.
Dancing in Limbo by Glenna Halvorson-Boyd and Lisa K. Hunter was so helpful for me after I finished my last chemo and was declared 'in remission'. It doesn't necessarily offer any solutions, but it does help you to understand everyone feels the same way after final treatment - abandoned. Earlier in my diagnosis, Anti-Cancer was really helpful as was The Cancer Fighting Kitchen by Rebecca Katz.
- Susie
January 31, 2013 11:40 a.m.
Anti-Cancer: A New Way of Life by David Servan-Schreiber is truly helping me to make healthy, positive, pro-active changes in my life. It also provides the reasons why such changes are necessary. In addition, though it's very long, The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer by Siddhartha Mukherjee gave me a perspective on cancer treatment that has made me much more pro-active.
- Jennifer
January 31, 2013 11:29 a.m.
Anticancer: A New Way of Life has been a great support for me.
- No name given
January 28, 2013 11:28 a.m.
I would love if you passed along my book From Incurable to Incredible: Cancer Survivors Who Beat the Odds. It is especially helpful for metastatic cancer survivors looking for hope. Here's a link on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Incurable-Incredible-Ca
ncer-Survivors-Beat/dp/1451512600/ref=sr_1_1? s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1359394046&sr =1-1&keywords=from+incurable+to+incredibl e - Tami
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