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Usually ships in 1 business days | | | Jarvis is an ordained minister with a bawdy sense of humor, and a breast cancer survivor who believes in telling it like it is. She's probably not everyone's cup of tea, especially if you believe certain topics are meant only for a doctor's office and/or the bedroom. Still, don't pass this book by without giving it a go-if you have breast cancer, it might be exactly what you need. A chaplain at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Jarvis cares deeply about others, and for all her fast talk, she's a listener. The accounts of other people's struggles are among the most moving in the book. She is also guided by a spiritual sensibility that transcends organized religion. But most of all, she's walked the walk. Diagnosed with breast cancer at the same time as her mother was, she underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy and an implant with courage and, yes, a sense of humor that signals a deep appreciation of life. The title comes from patients whose first question after being diagnosed with breast cancer often is, will I lose my hair? And Jarvis, because she is truly wise and compassionate, understands what they are really asking: will I lose my life? (Oct.)
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| | Product Details | | Author: | Debra Jarvis | | Hardcover: | 256 pages | | Publisher: | Sasquatch Books | | Publication Date: | September 10, 2007 | | ISBN: | 1570615365 | | Package Length: | 8.7 inches | | Package Width: | 5.8 inches | | Package Height: | 0.5 inches | | Package Weight: | 0.85 pounds | | Average Customer Rating: |  based on 14 reviews |
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The first minister I've wanted to hear more from! Jul 18, 2008
This book is written in such a personable manner, I felt like I was making a friend while reading the book. The way Debra deals with painful and scary situations with humor and caring diffuse the negative emotions attached to cancer, hospitals and dying. I was really impressed with how she integrated different styles of spirituality into a practice that sounds flexible and comfortable. I am not an active church goer anymore, but Debra's welcoming acceptance of others and continuing search for answers for the big questions in life gave me interest in more actively pursuing a spiritual life. She gives me hope that I will some day find a spiritual community to grow with.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
A unique and humorous look in the face of breast cancer Apr 06, 2008
Debra Jarvis has the perspective few other cancer patients have: that of a cancer patient and cancer chaplain. When I think of "chaplain", I imagine a older gentleman with a collar and a bible, ready to read me my last rites; Debra is the antithesis of this. She is a young, funny woman with a surprisingly secular approach to God, and she is able to minister to people with cancer in a way that touches everyone. And when she is diagnosed with stage II breast cancer, her reactions and emotions strike a nerve as genuinely human and real -- her training as a chaplain doesn't give her any special superhuman strength to deal with it more than any of her patients.
This book is a great insight into a cancer patient's journey, especially for a loved one or caregiver. When a friend of mine was diagnosed with breast cancer, I think this book was as helpful for her as it was for me in learning to speak about it. Just like a great film, this book will make you laugh and cry, but ultimately uplift the experience of cancer and shine light on the dark shadows that surround it.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
If you buy only one cancer book, make it this one Mar 02, 2008
I found this book while browsing in a bookstore early in my chemotherapy adventure. In many ways it helped me survive the ordeal. The writing is wonderful--engaging, humorous, realistic, and at times heart-wrenching. There are many "this is how I survived cancer" books around, but this one is different somehow. It meant so much to me, and I enthusiastically recommend it to anyone who has received a cancer diagnosis.
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
This is a MUST BUY! Dec 28, 2007
This is a MUST BUY book! It is an amazing story told by an amazing woman. You will laugh, you may cry, and I guarantee your heart will be touched as you hear her story of cancer and how she dealt with it. Her emails describing encounters with pills and doctors will make you laugh. Debra understands cancer from both sides, that of a patient and as a Chaplain who counsels people. If your life has ever been touched by cancer, you will benefit from reading this book. Joe Barnes, Pacific Science Center, Seattle.
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
Healing through humor Dec 09, 2007
As an oncology nurse, I appreciated Ms. Jarvis' candid yet humorous rendering of her experiences. Her wit is evident on each page, even in the more telling personal episodes with her patients and during her own battle with cancer.
There are no major theological breakthroughs here (those seeking deeper spiritual answers may need to look elsewhere), but that was not the intent of her book. Instead, she brings the reader through a devistating chapter in her life, describing her struggles and her often unique point of view. (I will never again think of cleaning the toilet in quite the same way.) The profound impact of cancer is not diminished, and yet she never fails to find something to laugh about.
This book is a must-read for anyone who cares for patients with cancer, or those who are facing it themselves.
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