LIVING AND DYING WITH CANCER
Angela Armstrong-Coster
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Cambridge University Press, 2004
194pp
ISBN 0-521-54667-2
RRP $US23.99, £15.99, $AUD49.95
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This is a narrative-driven, longitudinal study of a small group of patients dying with cancer. It is divided into four main sections – Departure (Diagnosis),
Exploration (Tests and Treatment), Anticipation (Remission and Recurrence), and Destination (the Deaths). There is a dearth of valid, truthful, experiential accounts of dying and the author’s
extensive use of quotations allows us a glimpse of some of the most personal and sensitive issues while the respondents describe the effects of the disease and treatment on their own practical,
emotional and social worlds. We see what it means, from the patients’ perspective, to live as fully as possible for what remained of their lives; physically restricted but psychologically invigorated.
The author correctly notes that the observations in this book are not generalizable, but there are important messages for those who work in medical oncology
and palliative care. We don’t treat a case of breast cancer, we treat a person with breast cancer; and every person is a unique individual with differing practical, emotional and social needs,
which we must recognize. Health care professionals need to understand how easily their actions and poor communication can compound a patient’s suffering. Hats off to the woman who had out-lived
so many life expectancies given by her consultant that when she saw him next, she ordered ten more years!
The value of this book is in what the patients have to say. Anyone who works in palliative care will benefit from listening to them and it should be required
reading for anyone training in medical or radiation oncology.
Roger Woodruff
Medical Oncologist and Director of Palliative Care, Austin Health, Melbourne, Australia
September 2004
Author Information
Angela Armstrong-Coster is a lecturer in the Division of Social Sciences, University of Southampton, UK
Table of Contents
1. Mortality in modern culture
2. Stage One – Departure
3. Stage Two – Exploration
4. Stage Three – Anticipation
5. Stage Four – Destination
