Uplifting Tips from Breast Cancer Survivors
By Barbara Delinsky

I put UPLIFT: Secrets from the Sisterhood of Breast Cancer Survivors
together because, as a survivor, I saw the need for a book that
treated breast cancer as a do-able experience -- and, indeed, the
response to it has been remarkable. The book contains useful woman-to-
woman hints -- things the doctor doesn't say -- practical advice on
topics ranging from what deodorant to use during radiation, to what
minimizes nausea during chemo, to how to feel feminine and upbeat.
This advice comes first-hand, in the words of 370+ breast cancer
survivors, their sisters, children, parents, lovers, and friends. The
new 3rd Edition adds updates, five years later, from many of the
original contributors.

The following are some uplifting tips from breast cancer survivors. I
hope you find them as inspiring as I do:

The Worry Box
"I found a box and glued colorful scraps of wrapping paper on the
top. Inside it, each morning, I tucked handwritten notes about my
worries and fears. Then I closed the lid and went on with the rest of
the day."
Nancy Burgess, in the "TAKING THE REINS" chapter.

The Art of Healing
"Go to a theater, a museum, a concert or ballet. Art can take us out
of ourselves, lift us beyond our immediate environment, enrich us
spiritually and aesthetically. Opening yourself to great beauty is
always a life-enhancer. In times of crisis, it's also healing."
Susan Stamberg, in the "TAKING THE REINS" chapter.

Pins and Needles
"Apparently, there is a dressmaker in Chicago who had prostheses made
out of her pin cushions, so that she could conveniently stick her
needles and pins into her chest when sewing and making alterations!"
Darlene Jurow, in the "HUMOR" chapter.

Eating With Friends
"I found conventional support group meetings difficult, so I formed
my own support dinner group. We dine out every couple of months to
discuss having breast cancer. We also share stories of our spouses,
children, and travels."
Deborah J.P. Schur, in the "SUPPORT GROUP" chapter.

Drinking Helps
"Someone told me my chemo symptoms sounded like a really bad
hangover! Their suggestion that Gatorade was good for hangovers led
to my drinking gallons of it, which helped steady that queasy
shakiness."
Jane Vaughan, in the "CHEMO AND EVERYTHING ELSE" chapter.

Accentuate the Positive
"Perhaps the most significant outcome of my battle with breast cancer
is that I have changed my outlook on life. I now regard life as
precious and try not to focus on negative things. Eliminating stress
and resentment from my life and concentrating on the positive things
has become my goal. I am now more at peace with myself. "
Sandy Mark, in the "PURE UPLIFT" chapter.

Looking Ahead
"It's been five years, nine months for me, but who's counting! I
still think about my cancer, but less and less. I'm exercising more
now. I really found out how good it was after my surgery and I got
into a program for cancer survivors. I only wished I had started
earlier in life. Now I faithfully visit the Y to start off my day."
Judy Peterson, in the "FAST FORWARD" chapter.

For more tips and quotes visit Barbara Delinsky's site at
http://www.barbaradelinsky.com/uplift/uplift.cfm

Barbara Delinsky is a bestselling author. Her novels are highly
emotional, character-driven studies of marriage, parenthood, sibling
rivalry, and friendship. They regularly appear on the New York Times,
Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Publishers Weekly, and USA
Today Bestseller Lists. UPLIFT: Secrets of the Sisterhood of Breast
Cancer Survivors is Barbara's first non-fiction work.

Barbara donates all of her proceeds from the sale of UPLIFT to her
charitable foundation for breast cancer research. So far, the sale of
the book has allowed the Barbara Delinsky Charitable Foundation to
fund three years of a breast surgery fellowship at Massachusetts
General Hospital. The focus of the fellowship is to launch the career
of a surgical oncologist with an additional year of training focused
on innovative breast cancer treatments and research, hopefully
offering returns to the field of cancer research for decades to come.

For more information on the foundation, please visit the UPLIFT
website at http://www.barbaradelinsky.com/uplift/uplift.cfm

Copyright © 2006 Barbara Delinsky Charitable Foundation for Breast
Cancer Research.