Cancer, Navigating the Journey

This guide is written with the love and care of a palliative nursing sister to help ease the journey for patients and their loved ones.

It’s a subject so often spoken about, yet with little practical information easily available. Urged by the many people whose lives she has touched as a palliative care nurse and stress consultant to put her valuable insight into book form.

In this 156-page book, Cherry Armstrong answers a wide range of questions, going beyond the treatment and medical information doctors provide to cover lifestyle, emotional and spiritual aspects too. The aim of the book is to ease everyone’s journey, for patients, loved ones and carers.

Readers will find easy-to-understand information, practical coping tools and an invaluable sense of support for navigating the cancer journey – from the time of diagnosis to remission or terminal stage.

Cherry covers a comprehensive selection of topics in 14 chapters – from everyday practicalities, medical aid, treatment and side effects to nutrition, complementary therapies, hospice and home-based care. It also addresses questions and fears, what to say and do when a loved one has cancer, a section on children with cancer, and how to deal with a terminal diagnosis.

Amongst this, you will also find stories of how others experienced and managed their cancer journey. These real-life stories offer a sense of connection and insight into the many ways in which cancer affects people; ultimately, it’s the patient’s journey and each one is unique.

The book includes a resource section, with contact details of organisations and specialists in South Africa that are helpful in the realm of cancer treatment and care.

About the author

Cherry Armstrong is a nursing sister who has engaged with various aspects of cancer for over 30 years, both in her cancer clinic and palliative care business. She has also worked as a clinical research nurse in oncology and other medical trials, and ran her own stress clinic in Durban for a number of years, recognising the importance of a holistic approach.

Cherry is also the founder of non-profit organisation Celebrate Life SA. Her first project was gathering 12 women to climb Mount Kilimanjaro to raise funds for Hospice SA – they raised R1 million. Following that, among other initiatives, she took different groups of women to climb Mount Meru and Mount Kenya, paddling across Lake Malawi to the Mozambican side, and paddling around the island of Mauritius.

Publisher: Quivertree Publications

Available from: all book stores or online (R390).