The Journey Through Cancer: Healing and Transforming the Whole Person

I ordered this book as soon as I was diagnosed with breast cancer. This is a comforting - helpful read!! It told me what I would be facing - and gave me ideas as to how best to get through it. I have now passed this book on to others as they begin the same journey. Thanks to the wonderful Doctor who wrote this book!!!

Of all the "handbooks" which are on the market for cancer patients and their families and other supporters, this one is the most straightforward discussion of all aspects of the disease - mental, physical, spiritual. There is a strong emphasis on the patient, family and doctor relationship. The steps of healing right up to the "final" healing are honest and professional. Three cheers for Dr. Geffen.

This book finally addresses the many dimensions of the human experience of illness. This book gives us the rare opportunity to follow a course that we can hold on to while being tossed in the waves of profound illness. The Seven Levels Of Healing doesn't miss any part of these difficult and frightening times. After reading this book, there was never an aspect of the journey through any illness that this book did not deeply explore. Though many other books delve into the components of healing and the transformation that we all go through in journeying through illness, this book finally has the courage to take the critical extra steps. The final 4 levels are able to sensatively and compassionately guide us through the deepest aspects of human wellness. These are steps that we could use whether in the process of healing an illness, or trying to identify the critical decisions, beliefs, and obstacles to feeling deeply connected with our lives in general. These seven levels are ones that I intend to update as I go through the many changes that accompany any life. It should be required reading for everyone. This book is an absolute gem!

If you or anyone you know is going through an experience of cancer, then you know it is a journey. The Journey Through Cancer, IS your guide book. The day cancer came to visit my husband Joe, is a day I will never forget. The moment you hear the words from a doctor, your life changes. In a split second you are no longer just a person, you are a person with cancer. The Journey Through Cancer gives you simple, practical and very real guidance. The world of cancer and your journey through it can be overwhelming, confusing and sometimes very isolating. Dr. Geffen comes shining through with the wisdom and compassion that comes from years of experience. Often, when we hear of someone with cancer, it seems tragic and we feel at a loss for how to offer real help. This book offers everything needed to sustain the journey. This book is now the first thing I give to anyone I know or hear of who has cancer. It brings me joy to know that in giving this book, someone is receiving one of the greatest gifts. The opportunities for healing and transformation available within these pages, are so profound, everyone should take advantage. Even those not touched by cancer.

In 1997, my best friend died of brain cancer (at age 52) and my mother died of lung cancer the following year (at age 71). Oh, how I wish I could have had Dr. Jeremy Geffen's book during that terrible time! I am so glad to have found it now. Reading The Journey Through Cancer was like taking a deep breath of fresh air. In fact, it was literally a joy, because, at the turn of every page, I felt that this extraordinary oncologist recognized and truly understood my experience -- and that of all of us who are touched by cancer. I, my friend, my mother, and my whole family had all experienced exactly what he describes. If we could have had this book it would have been like having a wise, compassionate, and very skillful guide when you're in a foreign country, or like having a map with clear, life-saving directions when you feel lost in the middle of nowhere. Loving a cancer patient can be almost as challenging as having cancer yourself, and The Journey Through Cancer speaks to all of us. This book is by far the best resource available on the subject. It has an unbelievably comprehensive, easy-to-understand overview of the most common cancers, their diagnosis, and treatment as well as an amazing list of resources for further information and support. Dr. Geffen de-mystifies the technical issues and helps you know what questions to ask and how to best help yourself with nutrition, yoga, meditation, and a host of other helpful modalities. He helps you get the most out of support from family and friends, and shows how to use complementary and alternative therapies safely and effectively. Dr. Geffen also lists extensive scientific studies backing up his vast knowledge of this disease and state-of-the-art treatments. But even more important, Dr. Geffen has the most reassuring, gentle, and comforting tone as he helps you explore all the dimensions of this enormous challenge. His true stories about patients and their families, combined with his heartfelt advice about the mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of healing, make the whole experience more comprehensible, much less frightening, and, at moments, even deeply inspiring. I have given The Journey Through Cancer to numerous friends with cancer. To a person, they described it as an incredible gift. If you or anyone you know has cancer, buy this book. It will make your journey far easier and inspire you to live fully and treasure the precious gifts of life and love.