Books or resources for HCPs who have cancer or other serious illnesses?

[womanvsfood]

My Dad has cancer and is really struggling with his mental health.

I think there are two key issues (aside from the general shitness of the disease). The first being that the effect of surgery and treatment has been quite debilitating and he has suffered from various post op complications, recurrent infections and pain. As a previously very fit and active 71 year old who I think has probably always held a lot of his self worth in his physical capability and sporting prowess this has obviously been very hard.

The second key thing is that he is a retired GP and therefore is suffering a lot of anxiety due to knowing too much about what may or may not be going on with his health, but at the same time not being a specialist or in control of his care either. I suspect this type of anxiety may not be uncommon for HCPs when they are unwell.

All this combined has led him to sink into a fairly deep depression that he has only very recently acknowledged. I think he's basically scared of dying on one hand, but on the other scared of living in what he would consider to be a very diminished way.

He's reluctant to have any talking therapy (although we are doing our best to persuade him), but has just started taking antidepressants which I hope might help. I just wondered whether in the meantime anyone knows of any books or resources written by or for HCPs who have had to deal with cancer or other serious illness?

Or alternatively any books about people who have overcome debilitating illness and returned to some type of physical health/fitness? Perhaps sports people (he loves sport!).

We don't know yet what the prognosis is in relation to the cancer, but on the face of it treatment has gone well so far and he is coming to the end of his radiotherapy. So if there is any reprieve from the cancer in sight it would be great if he could find some inspiration from somewhere to try and get some physical condition and appetite for life back.

I don't know if anything helpful exists but I would be really grateful for any suggestions, or perhaps even similar experience or advice that anyone might be able to share.

I can't answer all your questions, but the person who sprang to mind was Bob Champion - there are many books about him and Aldaniti, and if your DDad has a male cancer then www.bobchampion.org.uk might be a good port of call

And if he's interested in boxing, Tyson Fury has a book out 'The Furious Method' about beating depression - 'transform your mind, body, goals'

Google for reviews, it may well not be to everyone's taste, but there's no denying he fought (pretty literally) his way back from a very dark place. Not cancer, though

I'm a HCP and also recovering from cancer treatment. Mental and emotional impact has been much tougher for me that the physical recovery. I have worked in oncology especially around prognosis and survival. Shock of diagnosis and then fear were huge for me. I did the Macmillan HOPE course, which is online and you can work through at your own pace over 6 weeks. I was referred by my Macmillan nurse. It's really helped me. Also joining integrative cancer charity services such as Penny Brohn. They do group sessions and also 1:1s with integrated cancer GP (who is brilliant), nutritionist, etc. All evidence based.

Wishing your dad all the best.

Penny Brohn also does online exercise rehab. They do a gentle class to help get back to activity, a stretch and relax group and strength and stamina classes for those who have recovered from initial surgery, radiotherapy, etc. They're very good at tailoring for individual health issues. Mix of men and women and ages in the groups.

feel free to PM me if you'd like to

Cricketer Geoffrey Boycott recovered from throat cancer

Sorry for the late reply I got caught up in stuff yesterday. Thanks for these suggestions I will look at them all.

@coronacockdown I wish you all the best for your recovery too.

He hasn't previously looked properly at any of the support offered by Macmillan, Penny Brohn etc as I suspect there's an element of that sort of thing being 'for patients', if that doesn't sound too ridiculous - the sort of thing he will have signposted and handed out leaflets about over the years but never really fully considered what it is/can do. Considering himself to be 'a patient' is something he has found very hard I think, but now he has acknowledged his depression he may reconsider.

I'm not sure how he would feel about the group working element of the HOPE course (he's a bit old school!) but I will certainly gently signpost, you never know. I think Penny Brohn were closed/not working for a while during lockdown or at least when my Mum tried to get in touch, but I'm sure will be back now. I think she is planning to make contact again, even if only for her own benefit.

I do understand how your dad feels. It's tough suddenly being 'the patient'. The online HOPE course is done as a cohort but it's all virtual and there are no group sessions. I didn't interact with anyone else in the group, rather I preferred to work through the content on my own.

Penny Brohn has been doing online workshops and now doing face to face again. I'd certainly recommend your mum takes a look as helpful for 'carers' too. They also have some useful resources to download. Their nutrition leaflet is helpful. Your dad then may be willing to have a 1:1 chat with an integrated cancer doctor (GP), a nutritionist and/or a cancer rehab exercise specialist rather than doing any group sessions.

There's also Wigwam/Yes To Life charity that has evidence-based integrated cancer services. If you register you can access their archive of webinars. www.wigwam.org.uk/resources so there maybe some useful content for your parents there too.

Sending best wishes