My Mother's Breast: Daughters Face Their Mothers' Cancer - Softcover

Tarkan, Laurie

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0878332278 ISBN 13: 9780878332274

Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing, 1999

Synopsis

My Mother's Breast focuses on the unique psychological needs of women who must deal with the pain and devastation of their mother's illness while repressing their fears for their own health. By sharing stories of strength and courage, this book provides long-overdue support for the loved ones of breast cancer patients.

About this title

Review

When a woman finds out her mother has breast cancer, her world becomes a tornado, whirling with fears of her mother's disfigurement, pain, and death, and the panic and certainty that she will be next to develop the disease. Award-winning journalist Laurie Tarkan (whose mother died of a liver disorder when Tarkan was 11 years old) interviewed many women whose mothers had breast cancer. She chose 16 daughters' stories for My Mother's Breast, sprinkling each narrative with her commentary and that of psychologists.

Many of the mother-daughter stories are love stories, but some are not. Felicia's mother told her, "One reason I have breast cancer is because you kicked my breasts when you were little." Kathie's mother hid from her the fact that she was dying, so Kathie was never able to say goodbye. Some of the daughters who are their mother's support system can't find support themselves, like Jill: "My mother had breast cancer, my father was a wreck, my brother [was] an alcoholic, and my grandmother was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. My boyfriend was giving me problems on top of that." Not all the daughters are models of virtue and emotional stability, either: 17-year-old Stacy was a self-destructive rebel even through her mother's chemotherapy; 13-year-old Julie became bulimic.

Both the mothers and the daughters run the gamut of personalities and emotions. If you have a mother with breast cancer, you'll understand that you're not alone with your fears and concerns, and these real-life examples will enhance your understanding of your experience. --Joan Price

About the Author

DR. ROBERT GREENE is one of the country’ s leading hormone specialists, board certified in ob/gyn and reproductive endocrinology. His practice, the Center for Reproductive Health and Hormone Balance, is in northern California. Visit his website at www.robertgreenemd.com.
LAURIE TARKAN is a regular contributor to the "New York Times," an award-winning medical
writer with more than twenty years of journalism and writing experience, and the mother of two young children.

About this edition

• Publisher: Taylor Trade Publishing
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 0878332278
• ISBN 13: 9780878332274
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 240