— Voices and collective wisdom of those touched by cancer

— Concrete effective skills to deal with stresses of cancer

  • Strategies to help make decisions

  • Ways to manage intense emotions

  • Tools to talk with family, friends, colleagues and medical providers

  • How to live meaningfully

 
 

This compassionate book presents dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), a proven psychological intervention that Marsha M. Linehan developed specifically for the impossible situations of life—and which she and Elizabeth Cohn Stuntz now apply to the unique challenges of cancer for the first time.

  • How can you face the fear, sadness, and anger without being paralyzed by them?

  • Is it possible to hold on to hope without being in denial?

  • How can you nurture supportive relationships when you have barely enough energy to take care of yourself?

Learn powerful DBT skills that can help you make difficult treatment decisions, manage overwhelming emotions, speak up for your needs, and tolerate distress. The stories and collective wisdom of other cancer patients and survivors illustrate the coping skills and show how you can live meaningfully, even during the darkest days.

 

Advance Praise

Testimonials

“This book is recommended reading for cancer patients and clinicians alike, with warmth and encouragement that exude from the pages.”

KrisAnn Talarico, LCSW, OSW-C

Book Review, October 2021

Association of Oncology Social Work

“This book is absolutely fantastic. It will be so very impactful and helpful. I am thrilled to have this widely available.”

William Breitbart MD

Jimmie C. Holland Chair in Psychiatric Oncology

Chairman, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

"An important book for us all to read. It is practical, actionable, down-to-earth and wise."

Roshi Joan Halifax, Abbot, Upaya Zen Center

“In my 30-plus years as an oncology social worker, many books on living with cancer have crossed my desk. Books on this topic tend to be based on either personal experience or professional know-how; this guide is an excellent combination of the two and perfect to help you feel more in control and manage the uncertainty of living with a cancer diagnosis.”

Sara Goldberger, MSSW, ACSW, LCSW-R, cancer survivor and President, Association of Oncology Social Workers

“I will always remember the exact moment I received my first diagnosis of breast cancer, as well as my second diagnosis 15 years later. Over the years, I have nourished myself emotionally and intellectually by reading books on the challenges of living with cancer.

None has had a greater impact than Coping with Cancer. This book is a treasure trove of tools and skill sets that can be life changing as you navigate the road ahead. It is beautifully written in a personal, authentic, totally relatable voice. It holds a special place on my shelf—as I predict it will on yours!”

Debbie L., cancer patient in New York City

“I am deeply grateful to the authors for this respectful, compassionate, very practical guide. There was nothing like this book when my mother was diagnosed with cancer in 1954, back when people would not even say 'the C-word.' In fact, there has been nothing like it until now!

As the survivor of two aggressive cancers myself, I wish I had had this book when I was diagnosed. The authors provide a manageable, step-wise approach to coping with an individual and interpersonal disaster. They draw on knowledge from both DBT and psychoanalysis to produce a welcome, creative synthesis.”

Nancy McWilliams, PhD, ABPP, Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey

“As a DBT clinician and cancer survivor/fighter myself, I rely on the skills in this book to face my diagnosis, treatments, and uncertainties, and to continue engaging in my personal and professional life. This book is an invaluable resource for patients, loved ones, and support groups facing the emotional rollercoaster of a cancer diagnosis.”

Seth Axelrod, PhD, Director of DBT Services and Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Yale–New Haven Psychiatric Hospital