I’ve been reading a new book by Jannie Douma-Rispens about her experience of having a cancer diagnosis and her response to that. This has been a topical subject in recent weeks with the announcement that King Charles has cancer. In the UK currently the target for starting treatment after getting a cancer diagnosis is 62 days and that is not being met at present for hundreds of thousands of people. Having a resource to support you and/or family members while waiting for and during treatment seems to me important. Jannie Douma describes the shock for her, and importantly her family, of hearing the diagnosis. Early on she decided not to be defined by this, and to take control of her treatment and recovery. Importantly, the author describes what can be done in addition to the regular medical treatments, and of course these additional things can start immediately. The obvious ones are nutrition and exercise but she also felt a strong need to work on her wellbeing and energy levels. She used an approach called Logosynthesis to work at an energetic level with surprising benefits in reducing stress levels. This is an important book for our time, where there is an expectation that 1 in 3 people will experience cancer, more if you count those who have family members or friends in this situation. It is also hopeful and at times an emotional read. I heartily recommend it.

This book by colleague Jannie Douma is a book about that feared disease that starts with a "C," that many don't want to talk about, but strangely enough everyone is dealing with in families right now. The anxiety is great - first to get it and then the traumas arise from that dreaded diagnosis given. Jannie Douma has written this book with, first, a view of her own process. Then she continues the book with an important and supportive message - you too have an opportunity with cancer. An opportunity to accept the diagnosis, a chance to overcome the fear of the label you have been given, the dreaded treatment and what comes after. Jannie's positive message is grounded in the Logosynthesis® model - a holistic model for mental and emotional support for personal and spiritual development. I can highly recommend this book from practice - the book should be part of the work of every general practitioner, specialist, therapist, coach, psychologist, psychiatrist and social worker working with people with this illness, but really with all illnesses where heavy emotionally taxing labels are given.