Examining Myself: One Woman's Story of Breast Cancer Treatment and Recovery
Musa Mayer. Faber & Faber, $19.95 (176pp) ISBN 978-0-571-19828-3
In addition to a detailed account of her medical and reconstructive surgery for breast cancer, mental health counselor Mayer ( Night Studio ) demonstrates the psychological and literary insight which helped her to survive her trials. The author claims that extensive reading about cancer as well as a women's support group helped her to overcome her fears, self-pity, despair at conflicting professional opinions, feelings of rage and ``alienation from the normal healthy world.'' Above all, she refused to believe that her suffering had no purpose. She recalls how a spiritually inspiring trip to Nepal and Tibet helped to heal her psychic wounds. Now, five years after surgery, Mayer concludes with an encouraging report on recent advances in chemotherapy. (Oct.)
Details
Reviewed on: 11/01/1993
Genre: Nonfiction
Paperback - 180 pages - 978-0-571-19845-0