Coping With Cancer: A Patient Pocket Book of Thoughts, Advice, and Inspiration for the Ill by Veronica Blaha Decker, RN, CNP, MBA, and Linda Weller-Ferris, BA, MA, PhD is delightfully deceptive. The thin, 15 chapter, soft cover book is an easy 45 minute read full of practical advice for anyone coping with a serious or chronic illness (not solely cancer). While written for adult cancer survivors, nurses can definitely glean from the wisdom of "thousands of ill patients [Mrs. Decker and Mrs. Weller-Ferris] have counseled over the decades," as well. The bulleted lists of coping strategies and advice on a myriad of topics from crisis management to creating hope may not fit everyone in their unique situations, but they are generally useful and can be easily incorporated into daily patient education. I love that the book teems with empowerment - to say no, to ask questions, to add value to life and to also delete the negative influences from life, and to advocate for your own health among many, many other things.
Easy read. Practical information and education for patients and nurses. Win-win.
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