Book of the Month June 2020 - Living With The Long Term Effects Of Cancer

Book Review: Living With The Long Term Effects Of Cancer – Acknowledging trauma and other emotional challenges by Dr Cordelia Galgut. Published by Jessica Kingsley 2020.
 
As someone who has experienced cancer diagnosis and treatment, I would strongly recommend this book. It is not only for those who have been through, or are going through, cancer treatment but also for the GP’s, consultants, other health professionals, and for the families and friends of those who have.

This book chimed with me because like many people I have struggled with the long term emotional and physical after-effects of cancer treatment. This book validated my experience, letting me know that it wasn’t ‘just me’ that felt the way I do, and analyses the attitudes and prevailing beliefs that surround cancer ‘survival’.

Dr Galut, a psychologist who has experienced cancer and its’ treatment, lifts the lid on this rarely spoken of world. She exposes why the subject is still avoided, the obstacles to talking about the long term affects, the feelings of shame and guilt that many who have lived through cancer feel, and the dread that it might come back again. It looks at the impact of diagnosis and treatment as a trauma and advocates that it should be treated as such.

This is not a handbook of how to survive, although there is a lot of good advice, information on sources of support and strategies that individuals can use. It is more a validation that you are not alone in having some of the feelings that you do. As such it is a welcome addition to cancer resources.
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The book also focuses on the subjects of Relationships and Cancer, Work and Cancer and has a chapter specifically on the issues raised by the treatment of male cancers. Dr Galut has also included the views of other health professionals on the long term impact of cancer treatment on their patients. She rounds of with an appeal for an appeal for more discussion, research and recognition that the long-term effects are real.

- David Lettice

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