Books for Adults

The Cancer Survivor's Companion: Practical ways to cope with your feelings after cancer, by Dr Frances Goodhart and Lucy Atkins, ISBN: 978-0749954901

Coping with life after cancer can be tough. The idea that the end of successful treatment brings relief and peace just isn't true for countless survivors. Many feel unexpectedly alone, worried and adrift. You're supposed to be getting your life 'back on track' but your life has changed. You have changed.

With reassurance and understanding, Dr Frances Goodhart and Lucy Atkins help readers deal with the emotional fallout of cancer whether it's days, months or years since the treatment ended. Drawing on Dr Goodhart's extensive experience working in the NHS with cancer survivors, this guide is packed with practical and simple self-help tools to tackle issues such as worry and anxiety, depression and low mood, anger, low self-esteem and body image, relationships and sex, fatigue, sleep and relaxation.

Emotional Support Through Breast Cancer, by Cordelia Galgut, ISBN: 978-1846199363

This compassionate guide presents an array of new perspectives on the emotional effects of breast cancer and includes many personal testimonies from women who have been diagnosed with this disease. Written by a breast cancer survivor and practising psychologist, it shares practical ideas to help support sufferers at all stages, be it at diagnosis, during treatment or during life after the initial treatments are over. The concise, easy-to-read format includes exercises to develop an acceptance of thoughts and feelings, whilst the individual accounts validate the multitude of emotions felt by sufferers. It is a must for all breast cancer patients and sufferers, their families and friends. Its real-life approach, using first hand accounts, is also highly recommended for all health and social care professionals wanting a fresh approach to managing the emotional impacts of breast cancer.

The Bowel Cancer Recovery Toolkit: Recover faster with activity, exercise and lifestyle, by Sarah Russell, ISBN: 978-1781611364

Sarah Russell aims to fill the gap in the patient pathway where there is little knowledge about rehabilitation and the benefits of exercise after abdominal surgery. Her research, based on a survey of 2700 patients, showed that people become less active and lose confidence after a cancer diagnosis, but being more active can in fact have disproportionately positive effects, with the power to rebuild confidence and self-esteem when most needed. There is also overwhelming evidence that exercise is one of the most effective ways to manage the side effects of cancer treatment but what is safe and appropriate. Based on her research and long experience of working with stoma patients and others who have experienced abdominal surgery, Sarah sets out step by step what will help to regain fitness and with it a sense of wellbeing. This is a key part of the National Cancer Survivorship Initiative and therefore of increasing topicality as survival rates for cancer increase.

The Complete Guide to Breast Cancer: How to Feel Empowered and Take Control, by Trisha Greenhalgh and Liz O’Riordan, ISBN: 978-1785041877

Professor Trisha Greenhalgh, an academic GP, and Dr Liz O’Riordan, a Consultant Breast Cancer Surgeon, are not only outstanding doctors, but they have also experienced breast cancer first-hand.

The Complete Guide to Breast Cancer brings together all the knowledge they have gathered as patients and as doctors to give you and your family a trusted, thorough and up-to-date source of information. Designed to empower you during your breast cancer treatment, it covers topics such as: simple explanations of every breast cancer treatment, coping with the emotional burden of breast cancer, frank advice about sex and relationships, staying healthy during and after treatment, dealing with the fear of recurrence and living with secondary breast cancer,

Packed full of all the things the authors wished they’d known when they were diagnosed, and tips on how to cope with surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and beyond, this is the only book you need to read to guide you through your breast cancer diagnosis.

'A much needed guide which is both humane and based on robust evidence.' – Macmillan Cancer Support

Dr. Patrick Walsh's Guide to Surviving Prostate Cancer, by Patrick C. Walsh and Janet Farrar Worthington, ISBN: 978-1538727478

Each year, more than 230,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer, and 30 to 40 percent of patients who are diagnosed will eventually relapse. But the good news is that more men are being cured of this disease than ever before. Now in a revised edition, this lifesaving guide by Dr. Patrick Walsh and award-winning science writer Janet Farrar Worthington offers a message of hope to every man facing this illness. Prostate cancer is a different disease in every man, which means that the right treatment varies for each man. Readers will discover their risk factors, simple changes that can reduce the risk of developing the disease, treatment options, and more.

Nourish: The Cancer Care Cookbook, by Penny Brohn Cancer Care and Christine Bailey, ISBN: 978-1848990760

Good nutrition is vital for people undergoing cancer treatment, but so often the side-effects of the treatment make food unappealing and eating becomes a struggle. In Nourish you'll find easy-to-follow recipes designed specifically for cancer patients (and their families). The focus is on nutritious food that can be easily tolerated - and can help to alleviate common symptoms and side-effects, and form a crucial part of any cancer treatment programme. The role of nutrition is explained and the introduction outlines clear advice on cancer-fighting foods and how to tackle side-effects.

All the 70+ recipes are delicious yet simple to make, and many can be made in advance to make mealtimes hassle-free. Whether you are undergoing treatment, have opted to eat healthier as a preventative measure or are supporting someone through cancer and wish to provide nourishing dishes for them, this book will be your culinary guide.

The Royal Marsden Cancer Cookbook: Nutritious recipes for during and after cancer treatment, to share with friends and family, by Dr Clare Shaw, ISBN: 978-0857832320

The book is divided into three: a detailed section by Dr Clare Shaw on diet and cancer and the problems you may face during treatment (such as loss of appetite, nausea, sore mouth, change of taste); recipes to cook during treatment, which are nutritionally beneficial and wholesome enough to keep you strong even if you can't eat too much; and a section of recipes for after treatment aimed at keeping you healthy. These recipes are designed to serve smaller portions and two people as well as families, and there are lots of tips about budgeting, leftovers and freezing. Dr Shaw wants to emphasise that you don't have to cook 'special', separate meals for one, the rest of the family can eat in the same way, saving on time and stress as well as encouraging a healthier diet for all.

Dear Cancer, Love Victoria: A Mum’s Diary of Hope, by Victoria Derbyshire, ISBN: 978-1409172963

Renowned as a much-loved and highly respected BBC journalist, Victoria Derbyshire has spent 20 years finding the human story behind the headlines. In 2015 she found herself at the heart of the news, with a devastating breast cancer diagnosis. With honesty and openness, she decided to live out her treatment and recovery in the spotlight in a series of video diaries that encouraged thousands to seek diagnosis and help.

Victoria has kept a diary since she was nine years old and in DEAR CANCER, LOVE VICTORIA she shares her day to day experiences of life following her diagnosis and coming to terms with a future that wasn't planned. From the moment she woke up to find her right breast had collapsed, to telling her partner and children, through to mastectomy and chemotherapy. From wearing a wig to work and hiding it from her colleagues, to the relief and joy of finishing treatment before immediately flying to Glasgow to present a debate on the European Referendum.

By sharing her story, she became the person that mums, daughters, sisters, husbands, boyfriends and family members contacted to thank as they tried to find ways to cope with their own and their loved ones' prognosis, and needed to know that they were not alone.

The Cancer Whisperer: Finding courage, direction and the unlikely gifts of cancer, by Sophie Sabbage, ISBN: 978-1473637962

Sophie Sabbage was diagnosed with late stage 'incurable' lung cancer in October 2014. She was 48 years old, happily married with a 4-year-old daughter. Since that day - when doctors told Sophie that her prognosis was poor - she has been on a remarkable journey of healing and transformation that has reshaped her vocation as well as changed her life for the better.

The Cancer Whisperer chronicles Sophie's extraordinary relationship with cancer and the methods that she has used for dealing with fear, anger, denial and grief. The essence of 'cancer whispering' was born of Sophie's determination to take cancer off the battlefield and into the classroom. Instead of going to war with it, Sophie has chosen to listen to it, learn from it and choose her own response to it.

Tea & Chemo: Fighting Cancer, Living Life, by Jackie Buxton, ISBN: 978-1910692394

At the age of 45, wife and mother Jackie Buxton was diagnosed with breast cancer. Lurching between the crippling fear that the cancer had spread, and the great comfort of knowing she was one of the lucky ones who could be treated, she did what she always does when life presents her with a challenge: she wrote it down. Jackie quickly realised that even with cancer, life was far from bad. Never known for her scientific prowess, she nonetheless became a 'bit of an expert' - at least in the field of hair loss, water retention and biscuits - and decided to use her writing to share experiences and help others recognise you don't have to be defined by your cancer. Tea & Chemo is full of laughter, tears, honesty and hope, and offers inspirational words to everyone facing the life challenges that cancer inevitably brings. All proceeds from the sales of Tea & Chemo will go to three incredibly important charities, whose compassionate care and professionalism make the difference to so many lives: The Haven, Breast Cancer Now and The Robert Ogden Macmillan Centre, Harrogate.

Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Finding Peace in a Frantic World, by Mark Williams and Danny Penman, ISBN: 978-0749953089

Authoritative, beautifully written and much-loved by its readers, Mindfulness: A practical guide to finding peace in a frantic world has become a word-of-mouth bestseller and global phenomenon. It reveals a set of simple yet powerful practices that you can incorporate into daily life to break the cycle of anxiety, stress unhappiness and exhaustion. It promotes the kind of happiness that gets into your bones and allows you to meet the worst that life throws at you with new courage.

Mindfulness is based on mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT). Co-developed by Professor Mark Williams of Oxford University, MBCT is recommended by the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and is as effective as drugs for preventing depression. But, equally, it works for the rest of us who aren't depressed but who are struggling to keep up with the relentless demands of the modern world. By investing just a few minutes each day, this classic guide to mindfulness will put you back in control of your life once again.

Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness meditation for everyday life, by Jon Kabat-Zinn, ISBN: 978-0749925482

Mindfulness is considered the heart of Buddhist meditation. But its essence is universal and of deep practical benefit to everyone. In Wherever You Go, There You Are, Jon Kabat-Zinn maps out a simple path for cultivating mindfulness in our lives, and awakening us to the unique beauty and possibilities of each present moment.

Since its first publication in 1994 (as Mindfulness Meditation for Beginners), this book has changed lived across the globe. This tenth anniversary edition of the original classic text, featuring a new afterword by the author, brings this wonderful book with an even larger audience.

The Complete Mindfulness Colouring Book: Anti-stress Art Therapy for Busy People, by Emma Farrarons, ISBN: 978-0752265858

Beautifully illustrated, The Complete Mindfulness Colouring Book offers all of Emma Farrarons' exquisite scenes and intricate, sophisticated patterns for you to mindfully and creatively fill with colour.

Working with your hands is one of the best ways to relieve stress, so take a few minutes out of your day, wherever you are, and colour your way to peace and calm with this bumper colouring book.

How to Live: The groundbreaking lifestyle guide to keep you healthy, fit and free of illness, by Professor Robert Thomas, ISBN: 978-178072418

In How to Live, Professor Robert Thomas, one of Britain's leading oncologists and an expert in integrating nutritional and lifestyle strategies into cancer treatment, gives us the facts about everything from diet and exercise to sleep and sunbathing. This book doesn't just offer advice, it outlines in detail the underlying chemical pathways of our lifestyle choices

As Thomas explains, through achievable changes to our daily routine we can improve the expression of our genes - helping us beat the odds of cancer and chronic disease. We discover, for example, why drinking a glass of red wine after sunbathing can reduce lasting skin damage; and why some houseplants are more effective than others in removing air toxins.

This is a health bible for life. Whether you are in your 20s or 70s, it will help you to empower your body against ageing and degenerative disease and live at maximum strength.

Lifeshocks: And how to love them, by Sophie Sabbage, ISBN: 978-1473638006

This is a book about all the unwanted and unexpected moments in our lives. They surprise us, they blindside us. They shock us. They command our attention. Some bounce off us, other strike deep into our being. These moments are collision points between how we see life and how life actually is. These are lifeshocks.

In her new book Sophie explains how lifeshocks awaken us. She offers her own deeply personal story as well as other case studies as a vehicle for bringing the theory and teachings to life. She focuses on three kinds of lifeshocks we all receive: limiting lifeshocks which challenge our arrogance and appetite for control; exposing lifeshocks which challenge our affectations and pretences; and evoking lifeshocks which challenge our closed-heartedness.

Ageless Soul: The Lifelong Journey Toward Meaning and Joy, by Thomas Moore, ISBN: 978-1250141002

In Ageless Soul, Moore reveals a fresh, uplifting, and inspiring path toward aging, one that need not be feared, but rather embraced and cherished. In Moore's view, aging is the process by which one becomes a more distinctive, complex, fulfilled, loving, and connected person.

Using examples from his practice as a psychotherapist and teacher who lectures widely on the soul of medicine and spirituality, Moore argues for a new vision of aging: as a dramatic series of initiations, rather than a diminishing experience, one that each of us has the tools--experience, maturity, fulfillment--to live out. Subjects include:

*Why melancholy is a natural part of aging, and how to accept it, rather than confuse it with depression

*The vital role of the elder and mentor in the lives of younger people

*The many paths of spiritual growth and learning that open later in life

*Sex and sensuality

*Building new communities and leaving a legacy

Ageless Soul teaches readers how to embrace the richness of experience and how to take life on, accept invitations to new vitality, and feel fulfilled as they get older.

Warmth of the Heart Prevents Your Body from Rusting: Ageing without growing by Marie de Hennezel, ISBN: 978-1447205852

In this eloquent meditation on ageing, Marie de Hennezel guides us through a true art of growing old. She recalls her encounters as a clinical psychologist with extraordinary people who grow old gracefully and through her experience shows us how to make the most of this time in our lives, to avoid depression and to stay happy. She believes that wherever we grow old and whatever our circumstances, if we can maintain energy in our hearts and believe in the power of joy and human warmth, this can transform us and the way we look at the world. This is a wonderful book with a powerful message that applies to everyone no matter how old they are.

Menopause: All you need to know in one concise manual, by Dr Louise R Newson, ISBN: 978-1785216428

This new Concise Manual takes a straightforward look at menopause. What is it? When does it occur? What can be expected? How can it be managed? Dr Louise Newson is a well-known specialist in menopause and saw the need for a fact-based manual for women and their families. Menopause is a natural condition that affects all women at some stage of their life. At least one in four women have severe symptoms, which detrimentally affect their family, home and work life. This book will explain and clarify the stages and symptoms, and detail what treatments are safe and effective for particular needs. Migraines, depression, anxiety, osteoporosis, low libido, relationships, diet and HRT are just some of the areas covered in this new concise manual.