General reading list - cancer and treatments

Cancer at your fingertips (3rd edition)
Val Speechley and Maxine Rosenfield
Publishers: Class Publishing, Jan 2001
ISBN: 1 859 590 36 5

Facts about cancer and cancer treatments set out in question and answer form. Includes information on diet, exercise, sex and relationships, holidays, employment and money matters.

Haynes Owner's Workshop Manual – Cancer (Men)
Dr Ian Banks
J H Haynes & Co Ltd, May 2004
ISBN 1 844 251 58 6

Written by a doctor, the Haynes Cancer manual is an optimistic book, featuring hints and tips for a healthy lifestyle as well as easy to understand information on all cancers affecting men.

Living with Cancer
Jeffrey Tobias, Kay Eaton and Gary Lineker OBE
Bloomsbury, 2001
ISBN 0 747 554 10 2

Follows the BBC TV series of the same name. Covers treatment, side effects and different types of cancer.

The Cancer Survivor's handbook
Terry Priestman
Sheldon Press, 2009
ISBN 978 184709 0485

This handbook deals frankly and sensitively with the issues of cure, follow up, treatment side effects and recurrence. It looks at the support available to people who have finished their treatment.

Diagnosing Your Health Symptoms for Dummies
Dr Knut Schroeder
John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2010
ISBN 978 0 470 66096 6

This useful book offers practical and reassuring advice from an experienced GP. It covers everything from basic physical assessments and first aid procedures to advice on spotting both mental and physical health problems (including the symptoms of cancer).

Everyone's Guide to Cancer Therapy (4th edition)
Malin Dollinger, Ernest H Rosenbaum and Margaret Tempero
Publishers: Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2002
ISBN 0 740 718 56 8

Covers how cancer is diagnosed, treated and managed day to day.

Coping with Chemotherapy
Dr Terry Priestman
Sheldon Press, 2009
ISBN 184 709080X

Gives information about chemotherapy, its side effects, and how to cope with them. Also discusses the effect of chemotherapy on everyday life, including tiredness, sex life and fertility, social life, work, holidays, exercise and diet.

Coping with Radiotherapy
Dr Terry Priestman
Sheldon Press, 2007
ISBN 9 780 859 699990

Gives information about radiotherapy, its side effects, and how to cope with them. Also discusses the effect of radiotherapy on everyday life, including social life, work, travel, exercise and diet.

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy survival guide
Judith Mackay and Nancy Hirano
New Harbinger Publications, 1998
ISBN 1 572240 70 9

Written by cancer nurses. Has suggestions and tips to help you get through treatment. It is American so some aspects may not be relevant to the UK.

Booklets and audiotapes available from Macmillan Cancer Support

• Understanding chemotherapy
• Understanding radiotherapy
• Coping with hair loss
• Coping with fatigue
• Eating well after cancer treatment
• Diet and cancer
• Exercise after cancer treatment

Britain’s leading cancer information charities, Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support, are working in partnership to provide a range of audiotapes (and CDs), based on Macmillan Cancer Support's existing booklets. These cover cancer types, treatments and aspects of living with cancer. Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support are working together on a number of joint projects, to develop new ways to give people the information they need.

Healthier eating and living with cancer
Karen Jung
Granville Island publishing (2008)
ISBN 9 781894 694575

The writer's husband had cancer and this book is a compilation of recipes that they created together. The book aims to help people with cancer to incorporate healthy and appetising dishes into their diet. It has tips for meals and snacks to help people maintain their weight whilst on treatment. The book and the measures used are Canadian.

Livestrong
Lance Armstrong
Mobius, 2007
ISBN 0340922125

Very inspiring stories from cancer survivors from diagnosis to treatment and beyond.

50 Essential Things to Do When The Doctor Says It's Cancer (3rd edition)
Greg Anderson
Plume Books, 2009
ISBN 0452290104

A guide to coping with cancer, written by an American cancer survivor. Advises on taking control and dealing with the day to day stresses of life. Has practical advice about making treatment choices, and deals with spiritual issues.

Living Well with Pain and Illness
Vidyamala Burch
Piatkus, 2008
ISBN 978-0-7499-2860-5

Vidyamala has suffered chronic back pain for more than 30 years. She is the co-founder of Breathworks, an organisation which helps people experiencing chronic pain, illness and stress to manage their condition through meditation, body awareness and creative approaches to living.

My name is NOT cancer

A leaflet which aims to help people understand a little of what it is like to have cancer and to attempt to not be defined by it. Available from www.mynameisnotcancer.com

What can I do to help? 75 Practical Ideas for Family and Friends from Cancer's Frontline
Deborah Hutton
Short Books Ltd, 2010 (2nd edition)
ISBN 1906021562

Deborah Hutton wrote this from her own experience of cancer. She gives example of ways in which family and friends can help including practical advice and ideas of what to say. It includes contributions from celebrities.

Being a Cancer Patient's Carer: A Guide
Wesley C Finegan
Radcliffe Publishing Ltd, 2005
ISBN 978-1857756388

A good basic guide for anyone caring for somebody with cancer.

Their Cancer, Your Journey: A Traveller's Guide for Carers, Family and Friends
Anne Orchard
Rainbow Heart Publishing, 2008
ISBN 978 0 9559797 0 5

Anne Orchard has written this following her own experience of supporting a loved one with cancer. With some practical advice, as well as guidance on how to take your own inner journey, she suggests how to deal with this challenge in your life.

Talking with your children about breast cancer
Breast Cancer Care
This booklet is available free from the BCC website - you can download it or order a copy (www.breastcancercare.org.uk).

Talking to children about cancer
Macmillan Cancer Support

This free booklet has advice on talking to children from 2 to 16, including why, when and how to tell them about cancer. It is available on line (www.macmillan.org.uk) and by phone (0800 500 800). There is also an audiotape version.

When someone has a very serious illness: children can learn to cope with loss and change
Marge Heegarde
Woodland Press, 1991
ISBN 0 962 050 24 5

This is an activity book for children aged 6 to 12. It aims to help them to say what they understand about the illness so that adults can give them further relevant information and help them cope

Talking to children when an adult has cancer
Macmillan Cancer Support
ISBN 0 953 678 57 1

This booklet is written from the view that it is helpful for everyone to involve children in events that affect the whole family. The booklet is free and you can order it from the Macmillan Publications Line: 0800 500 800.

Talking to children when someone close is ill 
Children and young people's bereavement 
Questions children may want to ask when someone close to them has died
These booklets are available on the Marie Curie website (www.mariecurie.org.uk). There is also a children and young people's support service.

As big as it gets - supporting a child when someone in their family is seriously ill
Winston's Wish, 2007
ISBN 0 953 912 396

The secret C
Winston's Wish, 2009
ISBN 0 955 953 928

Winston's Wish was set up to help bereaved children and young people. These booklets (and others) are available from the online shop on their website (www.winstonswish.org.uk), from £4.99 each. Or you can  phone 01242 546187.

Haynes Owner’s Workshop Manual – Sex
Dr Ian Banks
J H Haynes & Co Ltd, 2004
ISBN 1 844 250 86 5

Written by a doctor, the Haynes sex manual includes information on health problems that may affect your sex life. Written with humour and compassion.

Relationships, sex and fertility for young people affected by cancer
Macmillan Cancer Support

This booklet offers information to young people about all aspects of sex and relationships and discusses the effects of cancer treatment on fertility. It also has coping strategies and options for fertility treatment in people whose fertility is affected.

Available free to people affected by cancer from Macmillan Cancer Support by calling 0800 500 800.

Sexuality and Fertility after Cancer
Leslie R Schover
John Wiley & Sons, 1997
ISBN 0 471 181 94 3

This book has information on sexuality and fertility problems after cancer, and cancer treatment. It covers the physical and emotional effects of cancer, offering some helpful, practical solutions to problems.

Intimacy After Cancer – A woman’s guide
Dr Sally Kydd and Dana Rowett
Big Think Media, 2006
ISBN 0 9788108 0 5

This American book has information about sexuality after a diagnosis of cancer and treatment for it. It includes information about how you may feel and offers some helpful solutions in maintaining or regaining intimate relationships. As an American book it is only available from online book suppliers.

FAIR Multimedia publishes a range of health leaflets specifically designed for people with learning disabilities. These include a series on cancer. You can view sample pages from each booklet, and order them using FAIR's order form.

Getting on with cancer
Veronica Donaghey, Jane Bernal, Irene Tuffney-Wijne and Sheila Hollins.
RCPsych Publications, 2002
ISBN 1 901 242 84 6

A picture book which follows the story of a woman who is diagnosed with cancer and has chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment. There is a section advising carers about how to use this booklet to explain cancer and treatments to people with learning disability. The book gives a positive impression of cancer.

There are more books on cancer for people with learning disabilities in our question and answer section on CancerHelp UK.

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