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by William Kenly (Author)
66 Veterans of a Rare Form of Cancer Share Their Stories and Poems from Their "New Normal" in This Fascinating and Uniquely Uplifting Book. About this book: "After The Diagnosis" was conceived one dark February evening during an unusually chatty Facebook MTC cancer group session, as the winter's third blizzard raged in the Northeast. Four months later, after 66 members of that group had put pen to paper, this collection of 84 stories went to the publisher. The only subject direction was to write about what cancer meant in their lives. No two stories are the same. Every story helps the reader understand about living with cancer. The stories are raw, insightful, and uplifting. Each story is a gem, and there are postings from those who have recently passed away, and writings from the children and parents. These stories are brimming with honesty, healing, and an understanding of our collective mortality. Comments from the cancer authors: "I feel like I live on a log in the middle of a river, waiting for it to be pulled over the waterfall." "With all the twists and turns during my MTC years, I feel as though I am always playing 'Whack-A-Mole'." "I am so happy I did this. It is so relieving to pull it up and out of myself. I still get emotional reading it, though." "I don't like to complain usually, so it was a bit difficult to admit how hard writing my story was for me...since the big diagnosis." Excerpts from the stories: "'I feel a lump', was the first thing I heard from my PCP. I had just thought I was tired and gaining weight because of menopause..." "In the end, I can nudge the cancer and tell it to move over. We're in this together, for the long haul. The enemy, if you want to name one, is not cancer. It's fear." "Respectfully, I say 'thank you' to my cancer for showing me what an awesome life I have and what amazing family and friends I have been blessed with. And don't forget, Cancer, you are my bitch." "Cancer changes people. It sculpts us into someone who Understands more deeply, Hurts more often, Appreciates more quickly, Cries more easily, Hopes more desperately, Loves more openly, and Lives more passionately."
