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Excerpts

Contents

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

INTRODUCTION: SHARING SISTER TO SISTER
Surviving for a Purpose
Where to Begin?
Journaling
Personalizing and Praying the Scriptures

CHAPTER ONE: MAKING THE ANNUAL APPOINTMENTS
It's That Time of Year Again
The Suspicious Alarm
Setting the Follow-Up Appointment
It's Mammogram Day
This Is Surreal!
Meeting the Breast Specialist

CHAPTER TWO: FACING THE DREADED DIAGNOSIS
Life Is Messy Right Now
It's Diagnostic-Test Day
The Agonizing Wait for Test Results
They Say It's Cancer!
Telling the Family
Who Else to Tell and Who Should Do the Telling?

CHAPTER THREE: PARALYZING SHOCK
A State of Shock
It's All So Confusing!
Becoming "One of Them"
Single and Sick!

CHAPTER FOUR: ASKING WHAT IF? WHAT ABOUT? WHY?
What If?
Maybe It's All a Mistake
What About My Schedule and My Plans?
Why?

CHAPTER FIVE: DEALING WITH PEOPLE'S REACTIONS
People Say the Darnedest Things
Top Thirteen Dos and Don'ts

CHAPTER SIX: PREPARING FOR WHAT COMES NEXT
Putting Together Your Treatment Team
The Planning Conference
Time to Make a Decision
More Waiting
Being a Good Witness

CHAPTER SEVEN: STARTING TREATMENT
Someone's Praying
We're Not Just a Number
It's Time for Surgery
Being Strong for Our Loved Ones
We Need Friends
What Did They Do to Me?
The Hospital Stay Is a Relief
The Lonely Oncology Ward
Your "C-A"

CHAPTER EIGHT: ENJOYING THE GOOD DAYS
There Are Humorous Moments
Feeling Like a Little Girl Again
Lots of Love

CHAPTER NINE: MAKING IT THROUGH THE BAD DAYS
It's Hard Being Brave
The Journey Can Be Lonely
Elusive Sleep
It Still Hurts
Losing It!

CHAPTER TEN: GETTING NEEDED SUPPORT
A Mentor Helps
It's All about You
Should You Join a Breast Cancer Support Group?
My Family Needs a Support System Too

CHAPTER ELEVEN: KNOWING WHO IS IN CONTROL
Spinning Out of Control
Controlling the Controllable
Seeing God in Control

CHAPTER TWELVE: ADJUSTING TO A NEW NORMAL
"Normal" Isn't Normal Anymore
Where Did Your Energy Go?
Chemo-Radiation Brain
Learning to Receive
A New Need for Peace and Calm

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: ADAPTING TO BODY CHANGES
The Miraculous Creator
Lopsided
To Reconstruct or Not?
An Extreme Makeover!
What About Your Hair?

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: COPING WITH THE PRIVATE ISSUES
Good Girls Don't
How Will Breast Cancer Affect Your Marriage?

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: GRIEVING THE LOSSES
The Grieving Process
The Steps of Grief
Working through Sadness
It's All Over, so Why Are You Depressed?
Feeling Guilty
Where Were Those You Expected to Be There?

CHAPTER SIXTEEN: RESTORING THE JOY!
It Feels Good to Be Happy!
A Transforming Blessing
You Can Rejoice in the Trials

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: DISCOVERING A NEW FOCUS AND PURPOSE
Changing Focus
Finding Purpose in Your Breast Cancer
How Does God Want to Use Your Breast Cancer?
Talking about Your Breast Cancer on Purpose
A New Boldness

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: LIVING WITH BREAST CANCER
How to Let Others Know You're Not Back Yet
You Need an Outlet
It Could Come Back
Eliminating Stress
Releasing Fear.272

CHAPTER NINETEEN: RELYING ON GOD
Can You Hear Him Now?
God Always Answers Prayer
Drawing Close to God
Breast Cancer Tests Our Faith
There Are "Angels" All Around
Our Hope Is in God

CHAPTER TWENTY: MAKING A DIFFERENCE
It Just Takes One Woman
Breast Cancer Sisters
Giving Back
Finding a Cure

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: PRAYING EXPECTANTLY
Pray God's Word
Pray for Your Doctors
Pray for Everyone Touched by Your Breast Cancer
Pray for All Your Breast Cancer Sisters

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: ENDING AT THE BEGINNING
Preparing for the Inevitable
We've Only Just Begun!

APPENDIX A: REMEMBERING WHEN
Dates That Changed Your Life
Memory Notes
Picture Me...

APPENDIX B: SANITY TOOLS
Doing Research
Research Notes
National Contacts
Books Janet Found Helpful
Decisions, Decisions, Decisions
Peacekeeping Worksheet
Appointments, Appointments, Appointments
Appointment Notes
Oh No! I Just Remembered...
Questions-and-Answers Note Page
There's the Phone Again
Phone Notes
We Are in This Together
My Medical Team
Important Information about My Medical Team
Additional Numbers Others or I May Need
Keeping Good Records
Taking My Meds
My Breast Cancer Journey Map
My Support and Help Team
Minding the Doctor
Bless You! Here's Where I Need Help
When I Need Comfort or Someone to Talk To
Who Will I Call or Where Will I Go When I Am Feeling...
Where Can My Husband and Family Go for Comfort?
Support System for My Family and Friends
My Breast Cancer Purpose and Plan
Prayer-and-Praise Journal
Express Yourself!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ABOUT HIS WORK MINISTRIES

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO CONTACT JANET

NOTES