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"...You may have encountered similar sentiments in other books on cancer journeys but seldom will they hit home so convincingly as in this ‘practical guide.’"

Harriet Whitehead, Ph.D.
Resource Center Coordinator

Q & A with Authors Pam Leight and Terri Schinazi

As cancer survivors, have you felt that positive messages for patients diagnosed with cancer have been lacking?

PL: No, but I don’t think that there can be too many encouraging words. Everyone can use encouraging words and positive responses.

TS: There isn’t much positive about being diagnosed with cancer. However, having access to a support group or survivors who have had similar experiences can help to minimize the fear of the unknown. Our book helps to provide this when resources might not be available, or in the privacy of your own home.

Can you explain the significance of the title of your book?

PL: It was a phrase that came to Nancy during a difficult time after her initial diagnosis. In the story she tells in the book, she tells how she visualized the word “cancer “ in her mind and saw and focused on the first three letters. She realized it was a message from God to look for the things you can do in your life when you have cancer and always to look for the good things that come from bad.

TS: There can be many good things that result from the experience of cancer. Usually they can’t be seen as they happen during such a difficult time. If you can, try to look at your situation optimistically; you may fulfill a part of your life you never otherwise would have known. There is a “CAN” in most every situation; you just have to look with different eyes.

How did the four of you decide that Finding the “CAN” in Cancer was the best way to share your experiences with other patients, their families, and friends?

PL: It grew out of an idea with Nancy and Susan and me during treatment. We wanted to be able to share with others all the helpful tips, practical information, encouragement, advice and knowledge that we had gained through very hard lessons so that they wouldn’t have to undergo the same difficulties. Since we knew that we couldn’t be there in person to help everyone, we realized that we needed to put it in writing so that we could help people we wouldn’t be able to reach otherwise.

TS: Separately, we were encouraged by many people to chronicle our experiences and offer it in the form of a book. We came together and agreed that with each other’s help, we could share our knowledge in a comprehensive guide to help others with the things we had to figure out on our own.

Can you describe the creative process, and the difficulties of coordinating the efforts of four people with families and/or careers who are also undergoing cancer treatment?

PL: It was quite a challenge, to say the least. Cancer continued to interrupt our efforts. We realized that, indeed, that was a metaphor for our lives- - that despite all difficulties we faced, including computer glitches, time problems, coordinating surgeries and family, we had to continue living. This book was so important to us that we were determined that nothing would keep it from going forward.

TS: It was difficult when three of us were going through treatment at the same time. We had made commitments to each other and were dedicated to the importance of that commitment. We all knew that this would be part of a legacy left behind. It was sometimes more convenient to meet in the treatment room; we would schedule our treatments at the same time and drag our IV poles wherever we needed to be. We had already experienced countless treatments and gone through many cancer phases in our lives. We chose to focus on what we were capable of doing and had fun in the process.

This book combines your personal stories and running commentary about your experiences with a practical guide to the “nuts and bolts” of cancer diagnosis and treatment. How did you arrive at this structure?

PL: Basically, it was through collaboration among the four authors. We knew that we wanted to give practical advice and information that would be a real help to people. We realized that in order for them to recognize the authority with which we spoke, it was important to understand our stories, so they would know that we had been there and lived it! It was not just abstract advice or simple words to us.

TS: There were so many personal experiences that were not included in “our stories” in the beginning of the book. Pam and I decided when we began writing, after Susan and Nancy had passed, that it would be fitting to include individual expressions where appropriate. The book is written as a guide with specific suggestions given in our voices; it offers the reader a warmer and personal touch.

In the process of describing your experiences with things like side effects and psychological wear-and-tear to readers, you’ve revealed some very personal information. As writers, did you find this difficult, or enlightening, or some combination of these?

PL: I would say a combination. For some people, it is more difficult to reveal themselves. For me personally, it was somewhat difficult because it is an intimate and personal revelation of who you are. But my overriding concern was to use my experience to help other people, and therefore my personal feelings were secondary.

TS: The process of describing these experiences for me was not so much difficult as it was healing.

You speak at several points in the book of the role of spirituality in helping you to deal with the experience of cancer and in motivating you to look beyond it. Has the writing of this book changed your perspective, and do you think the book will resonate as deeply with those less religiously inclined?

PL: It hasn’t changed my perspective, but it has deepened my faith. I trust that it will mean what it’s supposed to mean to people as they receive it. I can only know my heart in wanting to give comfort to people, if I could.

TS: Whenever anyone feels vulnerable, as is often the case after diagnosis, and they are open in their thoughts and hearts, the book will do what it was intended to do. It’s a practical guide whether someone is spiritual or not and it’s resonance depends on the person receiving it.

Even though this book is not technically a medical text, great pains were taken with the Resource and Index sections. Though the average reader may not appreciate them, can you explain why these were important?

PL: Because it’s valuable information to those who are interested in knowing more about this disease, and making good resource material available will allow it to be used at any time should someone wish to go further in finding out about cancer.

TS: The book was structured to pick up and use when necessary. When experiencing chemotherapy, your mind doesn’t function, as you normally would expect it to. When you are looking for a quick solution to a symptom or side effect, it is much easier to go to an index that is accurate, understandable and within reach.

Two of the authors of this book, Nancy Emerson and Susan Moonan, who both lived with cancer for decades, died before it was completed. Can you describe their contributions, and has the book changed in its significance to you in their absence?

PL: Their contributions are immeasurable. Without them and their input there would be no book. It has become even more valuable to me because of the legacy that it leaves for those two incredible women. I wish everyone could have known them. They continue to inspire my life every day, and the love that they gave remains always.

TS: Their contributions were paramount because of their survival experiences; without them there would be no Finding the “CAN” in Cancer. They live on throughout the pages, and the significance of the book will be determined by anyone who is touched by Nancy and Susan’s powerful inspiration.

As authors, what are your goals for Finding the “CAN” in Cancer?

PL: We would like it to reach everyone who can be helped by it in any way, and we would like to make it available to people even if they cannot afford it themselves. If it were possible we would go to each person individually to give them help that they need in dealing with cancer, but since that is not possible, we would like this book to be our words of help, comfort, and love to them.

TS: My goal is to get our book distributed to as many cancer patients as possible and to reach out to people with the prevailing message of hope. I am personally in the process of establishing a non-profit foundation formed exclusively to raise money for the purchase and distribution of the book. Our hope is that anyone who could benefit, whether they can afford to buy a copy or not, will have access to Finding the “CAN” in Cancer.