My Parent Has Cancer and It Really Sucks

Lets face it, cancer sucks. This book provides reallife advice from reallife teens designed to help teens live with a parent who is fighting cancer.One million American teenagers live with a parent who is fighting cancer. Its a hard blow for those already navigating high school, preparing for college, and becoming increasingly independent.Author Maya Silver was 15 when her mom was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2001. She and her dad, Marc, have combined their familys personal experience with advice from dozens of medical professionals and real stories from 100 teensall going through the same thing Maya did.The topic of cancer can be difficult to approach, but in a highly designed, engaging style, this book gives practical guidance that includes: How to talk about the diagnosis (and what does diagnosis even mean, anyway?) The best outlets for stress (punching a wall is not a great one, but should it happen, there are instructions for a patch job) How to deal with friends (especially one the ones with pity eyes) Whether to tell the teachers and guidance counselors and what they should know (how not to get embarrassed in class) What happens in a therapy session and how to find a support group if you want oneA special section for parents also gives tips on strategies for sharing the news and explaining cancer to a child, making sure your child doesnt become the parent, what to do if the outlook is grim, and tips for how to live life after cancer.My Parent Has Cancer and It Really Sucks allows teens to see that they are not alone. That no matter how rough things get, they will get through this difficult time. That everything theyre feeling is ok. Essays from Gilda Radners Gildas Club annual contest are an especially poignant and moving testimony of how other teens dealt with their familys situation.Praise for My Parent Has Cancer and It Really Sucks:Wisely crafted into a wonderfully warm, engaging and informative book that reads like a chat with a group of friends with helpful advice from the experts. Paula K. Rauch MD, Director of the Marjorie E. Korff Parenting At a Challenging Time ProgramA must read for parents, kids, teachers and medical staff who know anyone with cancer. You will learn something on every page. Anna Gottlieb, MPA, Founder and CEO Gildas Club SeattleThis book is a must have for oncologists, cancer treatment centers and families with teenagers. Kathleen McCue, MA, LSW, CCLS, Director of the Childrens Program at The Gathering Place, Cleveland, OHMy Parent Has Cancer and It Really Sucks provides a muchneeded toolkit for teens coping with a parents cancer. Jane Saccaro, CEO of Camp Kesem, a camp for children who have a parent with cancer