The Cancer Patient's : Everything You Need to Stay Organized and Informed

Joanie Willis wrote this guide on the basis of personal experience. She overcame a 4-percent chance of survival when diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in 1994. Although it recurred in 1998, her cancer is again in remission. Joanie lives with her husband, Jim, and two sons in Sanibel, Florida. In her own words: In 1994, I was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer and given a four-percent chance of survival. With the support of my husband and two sons, I began chemotherapy. The treatments were brutal and it took me nearly a year to recuperate from them. During this time, I learned that three of my best friends had also been diagnosed with cancer and I began collecting information in the hope that some clinical trial, vitamin or new treatment would cross my path and save us. I became a crusader of sorts, networking resources and encouraging everyone to fight through any means possible. Soon the cancer grapevine was abuzz and patients from all over were calling me for advice. I would do my best to counsel them on everything from what to eat, to how to take care of themselves during treatment, to how to find and get into a clinical trial. As I became more inspired to help other cancer patients, my friends diagnosed with cancer began to worsen. I experienced tremendous grief and heartache when each of them passed away. With each funeral I attended, I became certain that I would be the next. The fear and frustration I felt was nearly unbearable and I became determined to make every day count and again reached out to help other cancer patients. For the next three years I worked one-on-one with cancer patients in my community and I saw how much guidance was needed. I made informational care packages to give them and to send to the patients who called. I began to toy with the idea of expanding my care packages into a workbook that would provide guidance, comfort, and encouragement. In 1998, during a routine cat scan, a tumor was found in my right lung. Again, I was plunged into the cyclic world of chemotherapy and surgery. Where would I find the strength to recover again? Was it even possible for me to recover from recurrent lung cancer? I became depressed at the thought of returning to battle. The idea for my book took hold inside of me and became my only solace. I was determined to help other cancer patients and knew that a workbook would be the best way to reach them. I began to work on my book every day. I wanted to do something different from the other books I'd seen. I wanted a book that would help people become organized and informed. I wanted to provide step-by-step guidelines on all aspects of cancer and treatments, lists, and calendars. I wanted patients to be able to write down important information on everything from the diagnoses, to the doctor's advice, to medications taken and their side effects. I wanted people to have something to turn to that would give them helpful hints, recommended books and enriching quotes. After two years of hard work, my cancer was in remission and I had finished THE CANCER PATIENT WORKBOOK. I am convinced that being a knowledgeable and pro-active patient gave me the sense of control I needed to fight for my life-and win.