Leave a comment below to win this book!
There’s a new breast cancer book out there, with a new twist — it’s for men. It’s called STAND BY HER: A Breast Cancer Guide for Men by John W. Anderson (AMACOM Books, October 2009).
Anderson watched his mother, Anne, die from breast cancer. Then, he watched his mother’s best friend Caryl, his sister Mary, and his wife Sharon battle breast cancer and survive. From these four extraordinary women, Anderson learned how breast cancer affects men and what men can do when women in their lives become its victims. After his wife reached her five-year cancer-free milestone, he decided to write a comprehensive reference and compass for husbands, fathers, sons, brothers and other caring men.
STAND BY HER is a step-by-step program targeted to men who want to become invaluable breast cancer caregivers to their loved ones, while at the same time helping them address and overcome their own personal fears, frustrations and anxieties caused by this disease. Combining anecdotes from his own and others’ secondhand experiences of breast cancer with extensive research and abundant resources, Anderson provides information, strategies and guidance on countless medical and emotional minefields men face, every day. Beginning with the challenge of interpreting and handling the initial diagnosis, he clearly explains the range of breast cancer treatments — from lumpectomy and chemotherapy to double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery.
Anderson is an Emmy-nominated director of television commercials, including Lifetime Television’s “Stop Breast Cancer for Life” campaign, and a writer, producer and director of television shows. He is a writer for newspapers and magazines, whose work has appeared in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, The Nation and many other publications. He has a blog www.standbyher.org.
And he’s going to be on The Today Show on October 8, talking all about the book. Check him out if you can.
And here’s some exciting news: One lucky reader is going to score a copy of Anderson’s book. Here’s the scoop on how to enter to win:
- Leave a comment below sharing why you really want this book.
- Leave your comment no later than 5PM ET on Friday, October 9, 2009.
- You may enter only once.
- Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, and the District of Columbia, who are 18 and older.
- One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
- One winner will receive one copy of STAND BY HER: A Breast Cancer Guide for Men, valued at $18.95.
- Winners will be notified by email, so make sure to check next week to find out if you’ve won!
Shannon on 10/2/2009 at 3:22 pm said:
Hi, I’m sorry to post this as a comment, but I was hoping to get a hold of you and could find no other way to contact you on the blog. I work for a company that is donating proceeds of a non-toxic product to Breast Cancer Fund, an organization working to eliminate the environmental causes of breast cancer, and thought you’d like to know about it. Please contact me if you have a moment.
All my best,
Shannon
Dianne Duffy on 10/2/2009 at 6:00 pm said:
My husband would really like this book. I (we) was diagnosed August 2008, and we are still dealing with many medical complications. It has been a rough journey for both of us. Sometimes rougher on me and sometimes rougher on him. But I get all the support and he doesn’t. I feel so horrible that my family has to go through all this. My daughter was robbed of her senior year of high school, caring for me and everything else. My son just checked out, got addicted to stuff on the internet. It’s been really hard, but things are finally looking up (I hope). Only one more surgery to go and then wait and see….
Thanks for letting me sound off.
Dianne Duffy
Tim on 10/3/2009 at 7:56 am said:
Hi
I would like to read this for myself. I would give it to my church’s library when I am finished. Take care
Dawn Veselka on 10/4/2009 at 2:31 pm said:
How fabulous that someone has finally written a book for the men!! I’m excited to share this with others and will definitely be adding it to an iCarePkg on our website so that others can give it as a gift! Thanks for sharing it with us Jacki!
If I win this book, I’m going to give it to Diane… hang in there. I understand that it’s been hard on your family but know that it is part of their life journey to go thru this with you and they are learning invaluable life lessons. Your kids may not realize it now, but they are going to come out better and stronger for all of this. Have you been able to get family counseling during your treatments? If not, check with the social worker at the hospital and see what is available. Know that others are thinking of you and pulling for you all!!
Take care, Dawn
John on 10/5/2009 at 11:20 pm said:
this is a test
Ellen Fuller on 10/5/2009 at 11:51 pm said:
Dear John,
I thank you for the incredible gift you have given to both men and women who are on the difficult journey of dealing with Breast Cancer. I was diagnosed one month ago, have had numerous tests, biopsies, and a lumpectomy and am facing more surgery, radiation and chemo. Friends have shared good books for me to read, but my husband could really use one that would help him with what he has to face. He is overwhelmed because he is a PE teacher in a PreK-8th grade with a faculty of mostly women-all who think and act with concern, questions and dinners. He is at a loss in this ‘girl’s club’ that has blessed our life but invaded his comfort zone. He is trying to understand and learn the terms of all the types of cancers I have as well as find a way to tell friends what is happening when we don’t even understand it ourselves. I would also like to have my two sons read the book. One is away at college (and was already gone when I got the diagnosis). I try to be clinical and calm when relaying information to him so as not to frighten him and distract him from his schoolwork and social life there. I have a 16 year old who is scared and sees the more emotional side of what is going on no matter how hard I try to hide it. I think the flowers, dinners, phone calls and visits scare him most because he thinks things must be really bad with all the attention we are getting. He visits my girlfriend, who is his school nurse and also a breast cancer survivor a couple times a day looking for reassurance that his mom is going to be ok. I think your book would be a blessing in our home.
Fondly,
Ellen
Kim Meyer-Stigler on 10/8/2009 at 8:29 pm said:
I would want to give this book to my brother whose wife is battling breast cancer right now. She has 4 young girls that need her-that is her motive to keep going. I think the book would help my brother understand and know he is the only man out there with a wife with breast cancer.
Jacki, thanks again for your writing. I always knew you were an awesome writer!
College Guide on 10/17/2009 at 6:03 pm said:
Great post that covers the subject matter in detail
ddwweb on 10/28/2009 at 11:38 pm said:
Do you ever feel like you know just enough about A Breast Cancer Guide for Men to be dangerous? Let’s see if we can fill in some of the gaps with the latest info from A Breast Cancer Guide for Men experts.
The best treatment therapies for the breast cancer are :
1. Surgery is usually the first step in fighting cancer. The cancer is removed and the breast is reconstructed.
2. Chemotherapy is a systematic treatment. This treatment disturbs the whole system of the body. The advantage about this therapy is the drugs used in this method.
Think about what you’ve read so far. Does it reinforce what you already know about A Breast Cancer Guide for Men? Or was there something completely new? What about the remaining paragraphs?
3. Radiation therapy sends targeted radiation to the area affected by the cancer. The radiations are passed on the breast and the cancer cells are destroyed.
4. Hormonal therapy is used for hormone positive forms of breast cancer. This form of treatment is rarer than the others because hormone positive breast cancer is not as common.
5. Complementary and holistic medicine is often used in conjunction with other treatments. Usually these kinds of medicines help ease side effects, improve the quality of life of the patient, and help soothe symptoms.
Research has shown that women with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop breast cancer.
Those who only know one or two facts about A Breast Cancer Guide for Men can be confused by misleading information. The best way to help those who are misled is to gently correct them with the truths you’re learning here.
Marya on 12/19/2009 at 10:36 am said:
Thank you very much for sharing.
James Jardine on 5/12/2010 at 8:54 am said:
It only goes to show where there’s will there’s a way. Keep on trying. – How is it possible to find meaning in a finite world, given my waist and shirt size? – Woody Allen Born 1935
Thomas W. Simon on 10/7/2010 at 11:28 pm said:
Hi,
My name is Tom Simon and my wife has been diagnosed with Lobaur Cancer and had both breast removed. Sally is in stage 3A. She is now in Chemotherapy and there still is a lot I do not understand. I would love to read this book. I think it could help me now and help me help other husbands later.
Jacki on 10/8/2010 at 6:34 am said:
HI Tom. This giveaway is over, but I urge you to pick up a copy of this book (try your local library). I bet it would be a great resource for you!
Jacki