The Bottom Line
Pros
- Clear, easy to read prose, confident and compassionate tone
- Practical lists of questions to ask doctors, surgeons, and nurses
- Many suggestions for ways that family, friends, and others can help you through treatment
- Great coverage of the mental, physical, and spiritual aspects of cancer experience
- Good glossary, resource lists, and very useful index
Cons
- Not enough about her own cancer journey (I hope she writes another book!)
Description
- Michelle Rapkin was diagnosed with Stage 4 non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and survived surgery, chemo, radiation, and cancer.
- Rapkin's husband has also survived cancer, an experience which influenced her advice on how to be supportive.
- Published by Center Street, Hachette Book Group USA. October 2007. 176 pages. ISBN-10: 1599957051.
Guide Review - 'Any Day With Hair Is A Good Hair Day'
Michelle Rapkin really has been there - "planet cancer," as she calls it. Diagnosed with lymphoma only two years into her marriage, she instantly felt powerless and fearful. Instead of sinking into depression and misery, Rapkin wrote a book about dealing with it. She turned herself into the CEO of her own health and recovery. In her book, Any Day With Hair is A Good Hair Day, Rapkin shows you how to take charge of your health, from hiring a good oncologist, to buying a wig, explaining cancer to your children, and planning on surviving.
Special Sections on Breast Cancer: The author includes special sections for breast cancer patients, on what to ask your breast surgeon, plastic surgeon, and oncologist. She gives you tips on self-care after breast surgery, and encourages you to seek help with pain, exercise, and depression during recovery.
MOST IMPORTANT: Don't be a martyr! There are no prizes for suffering in silence.Practical tips and how-tos abound: Keeping a pain journal, keeping track of medical documents, writing a running list of honey-dos for people who want to help, things to do while waiting, lists of her top 10 movies, books, and websites to try. Can't think of what to pray when you're blue? Rapkin gives you prayers from many faiths and verses to use to get you through those sleepless nights. And when you are worn out and want to delegate tasks, just copy off the seven pages of "Tired and True Ways to Best Help Your Friend" - sound advice for all of us who want to be supportive, but need some guidelines.
Your medical team cannot read your mind! If there's anything you think they should know, you need to tell them.This Book is a Keeper: Any Day With Hair is a book that you'll want to take with you everywhere for encouragement.
