The Praeger Handbook on Women's Cancers: Personal and Psychosocial Insights: Personal and Psychosocial Insights

by Michele A. Paludi (Editor)

Overview

Each year, hundreds of thousands of women are diagnosed with cancer in the United States alone. The total number affected is larger still, comprising siblings, parents, partners, and children of these women. In this single-volume work, an international team of experts address the physical, medical, and psychological matters that are triggered by a diagnosis of having a form of "women's cancer"—breast, cervical, endometrial, gestational, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar being some of the more common.

The handbook examines and explains each type of women's cancer, covering the specifics of incidence, diagnosis, treatment options, and more, providing an up-to-date guide for women and their families to assist in making informed choices about their treatment options. The book includes personal accounts from women who survived cancers and beat their emotional challenges, addresses myths versus realities regarding women's cancers, and covers relevant, related topics such as race, sexual orientation, religion, and cancer coping. Special attention is given to the impact of women's cancers on relationships, intimacy, and body image, as well as psychological factors such as anxiety, depression, and fear.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781440828140
Publisher:	ABC-CLIO, Incorporated
Publication date:	05/28/2014
Series:	Women's Psychology
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	469
File size:	854 KB

About the Author

Michele A. Paludi, PhD, is president of Human Resources Management Solutions and a participating faculty member in the School of Management at Union Graduate College.

Table of Contents

Series Foreword Michele A. Paludi xiii

Foreword Susan Strauss xvii

Foreword Jennifer L. Martin G. Michelle Collins-Sibley xix

Acknowledgments xxiii

Introduction Michele A. Paludi xxv

Part I In Women's Own Voices

1 My Personal Journey Stephanie M. Karwan 3

2 Breast Cancer, My Sister, and Me Susan Strauss 11

3 HERA Women's Cancer Foundation Meg Steitz HERA Women's Cancer Foundation 59

Part II Sexism and Racism in Women's Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment

4 Women's Health: Biological and Social Systems Cheryl Brown Travis Andrea L. Meltzer 65

5 Cultural Consideration for Mental Health Treatment with Women of Color Silvia L. Mazzula Rebecca Rangel 83

Part III Psychosocial Issues in Understanding and Treating Women's Cancers

6 Psychosocial Aspects of Women's Reproductive Cancers Joan C. Chrisler Alexandra M. Nobel Jessica R. Newton 105

7 Psychological Sequelae of Cancer in Women during the Acute Phase of Survival Meagan A. Medina Bridget R. Kennedy Cecily A. Luft Paula K. Lundberg-Love Jeanine M. Galusha 127

8 Mind-Body Health Promotion and Women's Cancers Ricardo Joao Texeira Maria da Graca Percira 151

9 Coping with Long-Term and Late Effects: Challenges Facing Female Survivors of Childhood, Adolescent, and Young Adult Cancer Anne Moyer Elisbeth Santore Allison Marziliano 179

10 Impact of Psychosocial Factors on Health Outcomes of Cancer in Women Anna-Lena Lopez Phyllis Butow 199

11 Meaning Reconstruction in the Wake of Loss: Psychological and Spiritual Adaptation to Bereavement Laurie A. Burke Robert A. Neimeyer Tina C. Elacqua 219

12 Women's Experiences of Treatment Decision Making for Breast Cancer Katherine Swainston Anna van Wersch 245

13 Distress and Suffering at the End of Life Alicia Krikorian 263

Part IV Women and Cancer: Relationships and Sexuality Issues

14 Sex after Cancer: Women Renegotiating Sex outside the Coital Imperative Jane M. Ussher Emilee Gilbert Janette Perz 281

15 Family Caregiver Support to Cancer Patients: The Relevance of Adult Children Ricardo Joao Texeira Maria da Graca Pereira 305

16 Interdependence of Breast Cancer Patients and Their Partners: The Shared Experience and Coping through It Together Sam M. Dorros 335

17 The Experience and Construction of Changes in Women's Sexuality after Breast Cancer: A Material-Discursive-Intrapsychic Analysis Janette Perz Jane M. Ussher Emilee Gilbert 361

18 Exploring the Role of Stress and Neuroticism in Negative Health Outcomes: Can Stress and Personality Predict the Progression and Recurrence of Cancer? Sam M. Dorros 391

19 Managing Cancer from Diagnosis to Recovery: Advice for Employers Katie L. Pustolka 407

Appendix A Organizations Concerned with Women's Cancers Susan Strauss Michele A. Paludi 415

Appendix B Cancer Centers and Clinical Trials Michele A. Paludi 419

Appendix C Legislation Regarding Women's Cancers Michele A. Paludi 425

Appendix D Sample of Popular Books on Women's Cancers Michele A. Paludi 429

Appendix E Guidelines for Early Detection of Cancer Identified by the American Cancer Society: Summarized Michele A. Paludi 433

Appendix F Legal and Financial Information for Cancer Patients Michele A. Paludi 435

Index 437

About the Editor and Contributors 459

Editorial Reviews

"Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above; general readers." - Choice

From the Publisher