The Two Faces of Cancer

Book excerpt: Half of the UK population will receive a diagnosis of cancer at some point in their lives and most people will know someone who has been affected by this complex disease. Drawing from her three personal experiences with cancer alongside her professional experience as a counsellor and personal coach, Rebecca Brazier chronicles her journey through diagnosis, treatment and recovery. When talking about cancer we tend to think about the physical side effects of treatment. Although medical advances are saving and extending lives, less consideration is given to the emotional and psychological trauma which cancer creates. The Two Faces of Cancer describes and addresses this trauma and explores why cancer is difficult to recover from both personally and within society. It describes the devastation and powerful feelings cancer created for Rebecca and how she channelled these to create a meaningful life. It also draws from Rebecca’s professional knowledge to analyse the emotional and psychological impact of cancer and to suggest routes to recovery.