After a Life-Threatening Diagnosis...What's Next?: A New Approach to Improve Healing Potential, Communications, and Life Quality

by Carolyn Hornblow

Overview

This book should prove valuable in relieving stress and anxiety, especially important nowadays as the journey from diagnosis to cure or death is longer due to improvements in medical treatments. Healthcare workers and the general public worldwide would benefit as death is universal. The writing style is engaging and easy to read, yet highly informative. I would recommend this book to my patients and their families and friends.

Dr. Suzanne Ward

BMED FRAGP General Medical Practitioner

Canberra, Australia

This easy to read manual is invaluable reading following a life-threatening medical diagnosis. It is a comprehensive, clear and concise guide which can help reduce stress and improve healing potential. Written by a Registered Nurse (ret) who worked in the USA, UK, and Australia, she discusses why expressing fears soon after diagnosis can be beneficial for healing.

• Whatever the diagnosis, Cancer, Heart Attack, Stroke, Parkinson's Disease, etc., you, your family, friends and colleagues will have worries and fears about your future. Reducing fears and stress early on gives more positive room for healing.
• This manual is indispensable for Doctors and Nurses, encouraging them to learn why and how discussing fears early on is a positive healing opportunity rather than being negative.
• Various complementary therapies are discussed to use in combination with traditional medicine, maximizing healing opportunities.
• While we plan for births and marriages, we find it difficult to talk and plan for our deaths, even though none of us escapes it! This book provides tools and suggestions for preparing Wills, Advanced Directives, and listing assets and wishes at whatever age, the sooner the better. Being prepared makes life so much easier for all.
• Learn how to live a more content, peaceful life alongside your family, friends, neighbors and globally. Life is not a dress rehearsal. Learn how to live fully NOW.

　

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780367773564
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	09/02/2021
Pages:	206
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Carolyn Hornblow, as a Registered Nurse, worked on three continents for over thirty years in various specialties including Intensive Care and Advice Nursing. She then had her own Complementary Therapies Clinic for fifteen years. She brings her knowledge in an easy to read format. Inspired to write this book over three weeks she felt that a different approach to life-threatening illness was needed.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements xi

About the Author xiii

Introduction: Facing Your Fears to Help You Heal xv

1 'I Am Sorry to Have to Tell You…' 1

As People We Focus on the Negative! 5

2 Facing the Fear - To Help You Heal 9

We Should Not Wait until Diagnosed as Terminal 12

Breaking the Stress Cycle 16

3 Knowledge about Dying Reduces Stress 19

4 'To Life' Fix, Cure or Heal? Going for It All 33

Traditional Medical Treatment 34

Surgery 34

Chemotherapy 35

Radiotherapy 36

Proton Beam Therapy 37

Immunotherapy 37

Complementary (Integrative) Therapies 39

Touch Therapies 43

Massage 45

Aromatherapy 46

Energy Work 47

Acupuncture/Acupressure/Reflexology 50

Bowen Technique Therapy 51

Creative Visualisations/Guided Imagery 52

Dream Therapy 53

Yoga/Breath Work 54

Sound Therapy 54

Humour Therapy 54

Colour Therapy 55

Herbal Remedies 55

Meditation 56

The Power of Prayer 60

Gratitude Journal 61

Taking Care of Yourself 62

Sacred Space 62

Addictions 63

5 'Please Put Yourself in My Shoes, Doctor' 65

The Whole Approach 87

6 Life, Death and Life after Death 93

7 Getting Ready to Say Goodbye Soon or Aged 100+ 107

Wills and Trusts 109

Information List for Your Nearest and Dearest 111

Your Financial Details 112

Funeral Arrangements 113

Before the Funeral 114

After the Funeral 115

Be Prepared 116

8 Terminal Time - Are You Ready to Go? 117

Medical and Nursing Support 118

Some Arrangements 122

Your Will 124

Donation of Your Organs and Body 125

The Personal Stuff 126

Goodbye for Now - Clinical Events at Time of Death 127

9 Dealing with Life Afterwards 131

Timing of Grief 133

Keepsakes 133

Sorting Out the Belongings 133

Do Not Argue over the Will 134

Life Is Too Short to Argue 135

Advice for Friends of the Bereaved 135

10 'Avoiding the Void' No Longer 141

Getting to Know Your Void 143

My Version of How to Meditate 148

11 'Nirvana' Here and Now 153

12 Tools for Living Life Fully Now! 163

Why Are You Here? 163

Are You Doing It? 163

Why Not? 164

Logic Is the Enemy! 164

What If? 164

Start Today 165

Taking Cafe of You 166

Dare to Be Different 167

Be in the Now, the Present and Observe the Mini Miracles 169

What Can You Do for Yourself and for One Other Today? 170

Appendix A Some Life-Threatening or Life-Limiting Conditions 175

Appendix B Resources 177

Index 179

Editorial Reviews

This book should prove valuable in relieving stress and anxiety, especially important nowadays as the journey from diagnosis to cure or death is longer due to improvements in medical treatments. Healthcare workers and the general public worldwide would benefit from this book as death is universal. The writing style is engaging and easy to read, yet highly informative. I would recommend it to my patients and their family and friends.

Dr. Suzanne Ward, BMED, FRACGP

General Medical Practitioner

Canberra, Australia

A must read.

E. Anne Jack R.G.N. S.C.M.

Registered Nurse and Midwife (ret)

Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

The Author provides helpful, practical suggestions and has empathy with these issues.

Pat Nardone

RN with 40 Years Experience

Northern California, USA

This is an important resource for a large, needy population: a very useful guide for those facing serious disease that requires long term treatment. Carolyn is intuitive and experienced in these issues and provides excellent coverage of the topic in an easy to read format. I would have found it useful when I was in medical practice before retiring.

Richard Gracer, MD, DABFM, DABAM

Family Medicine and Pain Management Specialist

California, USA

Carolyn is a caring, professional nurse and teacher who shares clear tools and helpful ideas for people at all levels, deepening their understanding life, living, dying and death.

Sharon Sherrard

Founder of ‘A Center for Inner Peace’

Instructor of ‘A Course in Miracles’

Northern California, USA

A book whose time has come.

Michael C. Blank, R.N.

Registered Nurse

California, USA

From the Publisher