Includes bibliographical references (p. 197-200) and index.

Diagnosis -- Stories -- Aftermath -- Living with cancer -- Introducing cancer -- Cancer causes and prevention -- Importance of early detection -- Living with the three most common cancers -- Lung -- Breast -- Colon -- Progress in cancer research -- Clinical trials -- Biological response modification -- Prevention -- Learning more about cancer -- Diagnostic methods -- Cancer staging -- Treatment options -- Surgery -- Radiation -- Chemotherapy -- Unproven methods of cancer treatment -- Dealing with daily health -- Importance of good nutrition -- Nutritional basics -- Side effects from cancer treatment that inhibit good nutrition -- Dealing with other side effects of cancer and its treatment -- Hair loss -- Blood counts -- Pain -- Fatigue -- Skin problems -- Dental problems -- Urinary tract problems -- Dealing with your emotions -- Identifying and understanding your feelings -- Shock/disbelief -- Anger -- Denial -- Depression -- Uncertainty -- Fear -- Communicating your feelings to family and friends -- Fear inhibits communication -- Stay close, listen and accept -- Emotional reactions vary -- Depression is normal -- Why a marriage can break -- Value of friends -- Asking for help -- Changing face of friendship -- Communicating your feelings to your doctor -- Enhancing self esteem and sexuality -- Sexuality defined -- Sexuality as a measure of self worth -- Cancer's effect on sexuality and self esteem -- Body image changes -- Role changes -- Changes in intimate relationships and sexual performance -- Communication and sexuality -- Specific sexual concerns -- Lack of desire -- Fatigue -- Pain -- Medication -- Reproduction -- Some parting tips on getting physical -- Keeping active in mind and body -- Discovering the value of fitness -- Daily patterns of living with cancer -- Conserving personal energy -- Self-help strategies for daily activities -- Keeping physically fit with exercise -- Reducing stress and tension -- What is stress anyway? -- Are stress and disease related? -- Fifteen proven ways to reduce stress -- Relaxation: the ultimate stress reducer -- Uncertainty: the ultimate stress -- Identifying support systems and resources -- People helping people -- Financial and legal resources -- Health care resources -- Resources for additional information -- American Cancer Society -- National Cancer Institute -- Other helping organizations -- Additional resources -- New beginning.