The Joy of Cancer by Anup Kumar
(A book review by Aparna Mehra)
The Joy of Cancer is an inspiring book written in the form of a survival guide for cancer patients, in which the author has drawn upon his own battle with and victory over lung cancer. It comes across as a comprehensive handbook which deals with almost all aspects of the impact of cancer and its treatment upon the individual. Through this book, the author is reaching out to everyone whose life has been touched by cancer, with the objective of informing and helping them to achieve victory over it.
It is a useful handbook, not only for cancer patients, but also for immediate family who will be looking for answers to a variety of questions about cancer, and trying to cope with the changes brought about in the physical and emotional state of the cancer patient. This book will also be of tremendous assistance to counselors, who can use the wisdom contained in it to guide and counsel patients and their families.
The Joy of Cancer outlines a seven point battle plan against cancer that the author used himself to come through 6 months of his treatment for lung cancer. Anup Kumar was a successful senior executive, who was 50 years old when a patch was discovered in his lungs. A battery of tests and doctors opinions later (in Delhi and at the Tata Memorial Hospital in Mumbai) the diagnosis was confirmed as Stage IV lung cancer, with only four months left to live. Having made up his mind to survive, he set about his battle plan systematically, and turned his death sentence around through his determination.
The book has been structured as a step by step guide, in which the author does not dwell for long upon his deep emotional anguish. He draws lessons from all his personal experiences and translates them into a treasury of information about the issues a cancer patient is likely to face, and guides the reader on what he believes is the best way to handle each one. The approach highlights the importance of togetherness of the mind and the body in the war against cancer, and lays stress on holistic healing for regaining the equilibrium of the mind-body continuum.
In the seven point battle plan, the first stage of the treatment is total acceptance of the fact that you are a cancer patient, putting behind you the Why me, and gearing up for battle.
The next step in the battle is choosing your doctors and the treatment. The author narrates how he invested a significant amount of time in exploring alternative treatment therapies, ie. Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Tibetan medicine, Naturopathy, Reiki, Faith healing, etc. He also underlines the fact that an important factor in the success of the treatment is the active participation of the patient at all times.
The highest importance has been given to the next step, which is about thinking positive : putting the anger and remorse behind you and bringing the mind and body together to fight the enemy. The author relates how he filled his mind with creative and joyous thoughts, and relived the joyous moments in his life while coping with the debilitating side effects of chemotherapy. He also used yoga, Buddhist chanting, Reiki and meditation to bring him a sense of peace. This book lays great emphasis on using the potential of the mind-body continuum and activating the hidden strengths within us. Another critical step is visualizing the healing taking place in the body, which increases the belief that you can win. Positive mental imagery reduces the fear, anxiety and anger that you may feel towards the cancer, and strengthens the will to live.
The fifth step in the battle is harnessing the support of family and friends, and yet trying to preserve your normal role within the family unit. It is important to be self sufficient as far as possible. Setting goals, both short term and long term, and achieving them, gives the cancer patient a sense of control. The winning habit also uplifts you and builds your inner strength.
An aggressive nutrition program is key to the battle plan against cancer, since it avoids the malnutrition that can result from the cancer and its treatment. A good diet stimulates the immune functions, improves the efficacy of the drugs and helps the body to cope better. In this section the author outlines healthy food practices for cancer patients and also highlights some foods that are known the world over to prevent the onslaught of cancer.
Apart from the seven point battle plan, there are other useful sections in the book : Dos and Donts for family and friends, and myths and misconceptions about cancer. There are also many useful appendices: cancer facts and terminologies, information about cancer types, diagnosis and treatments, side effects of chemotherapy treatment, information and contact details about cancer societies, and useful reading.
I liked this book for a variety of reasons. Firstly, the entire focus of the book is about informing and helping those whose lives have been touched by cancer. The matter of fact tone and structure of the book and the treasury of information it contains makes it invaluable as a survival guide for cancer patients and care givers. The strongly positive approach and the focus on winning the battle makes it a great motivational tool. Advocating a holistic approach towards healing, and use of the positive energy of the mind-body continuum gives a sense of hope for a disease which most people associate with certain death. The wisdom contained in this book must have come from hours of factual research and painstaking documentation of personal experiences. It is highly inspirational and motivates the patient to face cancer and its treatment with fortitude and a sense of hope.
I believe this book will be useful even for an ordinary reader, for all the underlying positive messages, about living each day with a sense of purpose, about not giving up, and about harnessing the unexplored power of the inner self
source: http://www.cpaaindia.org/infocentre/bookreview.htm#JOY