Holding on to Normal: How I Survived Cancer and Made It to the Other Side, Happier, Healthier and StrongerA compelling memoir about trying to live meaningfully with illness and triumph beyond it, by breast cancer survivor Alana Somerville, a teacher and mother of two young children. I looked at all the sick people around me. Was I going to be like them? Was that already me? Did I suddenly have a time stamp on my life? Would I make it out of this alive? Alana Somerville—wife, teacher and mother of two small children—was thirty-three years old when she was diagnosed with stage-two, triple-negative breast cancer. The diagnosis changed her world and the relationships she had with everyone around her. Suddenly she was faced with endless medical appointments, multiple surgeries and procedures, the challenges of chemotherapy, and all the decisions involved in her treatment. She also had to deal with the trauma of realizing that her support network—sometimes even her closest friends—could struggle with how to help or even how to react to her anymore. Throughout the course of her illness, Alana learned to maneuver through the medical system, to advocate for herself, and to build a truly supportive network. She also discovered how to keep her positive spirit intact while undergoing a double mastectomy and ongoing treatment. She is now living cancer-free—a survivor and an advocate. Alana’s story is not unique. It’s a story that will resonate with anyone who has suffered illness and found themselves navigating a whole new world upon diagnosis. This is an “everywoman’s” journey through the experience of cancer, tracing the emotional, physical and psychological steps that are common to all. In the end, this memoir will offer hope that one can live a healthy, fulfilling and happy life beyond diagnosis. Holding on to Normal is for anyone who is suffering—or knows someone who is suffering from—a setback in life, and who is looking for inspiration on how to navigate their own journey. |
Contents
Stupid Pink Everywhere | |
Diagnosis | |
Positive Thoughts Damn | |
Squeaky Wheel | |
Will I Wake Up Again? | |
Grasping at Straws | |
What a Pain | |
Part Four WILL I MAKE | |
Distraction | |
Burn Baby Burnor | |
Real or Fake? | |
Overreaction | |
Planning Ahead | |
Missing Pieces | |
Bad News Part One SHOCK | |
Oncology Logic 11 Welcome to Chemo Part Two FIRST STEPS | |
The Red Devil | |
Do They Stay or Do They | |
Its Only Hair Isnt | |
Its My Party and Ill Cry If I Want | |
Everything Is Crap | |
Taking It All | |
A Numbers Game | |
The Great Unknown | |
Nesting Part Three LOST | |
Moving Moving Moving | |
Mission Accomplished | |
Part Five | |
The New Boobless | |
Signs of Emotion | |
Abiding Scars | |
Who Me a Survivor? | |
On Trial | |
Final Surgery | |
Finishing Touches | |
A Gift from the Heart | |
Epilogue | |
Photographs Acknowledgments | |
About the Author | |
Other editions - View all
Holding on to Normal: How I Survived Cancer and Made It to the Other Side ... Alana Somerville No preview available - 2018 |
Common terms and phrases
Alana amazing anymore appointment asked Ativan bathroom began biopsy blood bone scan BRCA1 BRCA2 breast cancer breast reconstruction breastfeeding called Charley and Rudy chemo suite chemotherapy chest cubic centimeters dexamethasone diagnosed dinner Doctor 9 drains drugs Erin everything feel better felt friends Gabby getting going gone Greg Greg's hair haircut happening happy head help but think hospital hurt keep kids kitchen knew laughed Lepa looked loved lump lumpectomy lymph nodes mammogram Mary Kay mastectomy menopause metformin minutes Mommy mother nausea needle Neulasta never night Nina nipples nurse okay oncologist pain patients Percocet pulled ready realized removed sleep smiled someone started stop sure surgeon surgery talk Taxol tell Thank things thought tissue told took tried trying Tylenol ultrasound wait walked watch weeks wondered worry