The resources below are specific to women with secondary breast cancer, as your information needs will be different to women with early breast cancer.
Note: if you would like to order books online and a supplier is not listed here, then you can try amazon.com.
About secondary breast cancer
- The Inside Story is a four page supplement to The Beacon, produced by BCNA.
- Messages of Hope and Inspiration -- BCNA members share their inspirational stories of living with secondary breast cancer.
- You're Not Alone is a film about the experiences of three women, living with secondary breast cancer. They talk about what it was like when they were first diagnosed with this life threatening illness, and their journey into unchartered territory as they learned to cope with the support of their family, friends and other women in a professionally led support group. It is available from www.advancedbreastcancergroup.org or phone 07 3217 2998.
- A Guide for Women with Metastatic Breast Cancer is a comprehensive resource for women who have cancer that has spread to other parts of the body. It is available from Cancer Australia (1800 624 973) / State Cancer Councils (13 11 20) or the Cancer Australia website.
- Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Advanced Breast Cancer is primarily intended for use by all health professionals involved in the management of women with secondary breast cancer and covers psychosocial, clinical and quality of life issues. Available from Cancer Australia (1800 624 973) or the Cancer Australia website
- When Cancer Won't Go Away: For People Whose Cancer has Advanced is a booklet for adults who have a cancer that is not likely to be cured and who are looking for information and support. Available from the Cancer Council Victoria 03 9635 5000 (or 13 11 20 if calling within Victoria). Also available on the Cancer Council website.
- Dr Susan Love's Breast Book, 3rd edition, revised (2000), is a comprehensive guide to breast cancer, treatment and living with breast cancer. The 'Bible' for many women wanting to learn more about breast health and breast cancer. Contains useful information about secondary breast cancer. Not Australian.
Author: Dr Susan M Love Publisher: Perseus Book Group. Available from libraries, bookstores and www.amazon.com
Living with secondary breast cancer
- I Still Buy Green Bananas: Living with Hope, Living with Advanced Breast Cancer is a booklet offering practical advice and personal stories on coping with a diagnosis of secondary breast cancer and living life fully with cancer each day. Not Australian. Available from: State Cancer Councils (13 11 20) or the network of strength website.
- Holding Tight, Letting Go: Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer (1997) is a book about life, the daily lives of ordinary people confronting serious illness. Of the dozens of books dealing with breast cancer, few discuss the realities of secondary disease. All aspects of dealing with the disease are covered in this book: coping with the shock of recurrence, seeking information, making treatment decisions, and communicating effectively with medical personnel. Getting emotional support from other patients and friends and working on relationship and family issues are often as important as managing the side-effects of treatment and the pain and symptoms of disease progression. Open discussions about approaching the end of life often lead to a profound inquiry into ways of keeping hope alive and finding meaning in the midst of adversity. Not Australian.
Author: Musa Mayer Publisher: O'Reilly and Associates, available from bookstores and libraries - Advanced Breast Cancer: A Guide to Living with Metastatic Disease, 2nd edition (1998), deals honestly with the realities of living with secondary disease, yet offers hope and comfort. Not Australian.
Author: Musa Mayer Publisher: O'Reilly and Associates Inc., available from bookstores and libraries.
For family, friends and carers
- When Cancer Won't Go Away: For Carers of People Whose Cancer has Advanced (2000) is for carers of adults who have a cancer that is not likely to be cured and who are looking for information and support. Available from Cancer Council of Victoria 03 9635 5000 (or 13 11 20 if calling within Victoria) and from the Cancer Council website.
- Supportive Cancer Care: The Complete Guide for Patients and their Families (2001) is not written specifically about secondary cancer, but covers cancer care through all phases of the disease. Described as the National Cancer Institute Guide, it is written for patients and families to help them understand cancer and how to actively participate in their care. Not Australian.
Author: Ernest H Rosenbaum MD, Isadora R Rosenbaum, Alan Glassberg
Publisher: Sourcebooks Trade, available from bookstores and libraries. - When the Woman You Love has Advanced Breast Cancer (audio cassette/CD) provides information to men about supporting a woman through secondary breast cancer. Available from the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre (1800 624 973 - voicemail) / State Cancer Councils 13 11 20.
- When Someone has a Very Serious Illness: Children Can Learn to Cope with Loss and Change (1992) Written for children aged 9-12 years, this book will help families communicate and evaluate a child's understanding and feelings about change while teaching basic concepts of illness and healthy coping skills. Not Australian.
Author: Marge Heegaard
Publisher: Woodland Press, available from amazon.com. - The Needs of Children of Mothers with Advanced Breast Cancer (1997)
Authors: Jane Turner, Pam McGrath. Available from the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre (1800 624 973 - voicemail); State Cancer Councils (13 11 20). - What Will I Tell the Children? Information for Parents Who Have Been Told They Have Cancer Help with how to talk to your children about your cancer. From infancy to 18 years. Australian brochure.
Authors: Cynthia Holland, Nichole Vanos (Royal Women's Hospital Gynaecological Cancer Research Centre)
Publisher: The Cancer Council Victoria, available from the Royal Women's Hospital Melbourne - She's got what? A Story about Cancer.Written for children, breast cancer in the family can bring massive changes, a huge upheaval to their lives and to their sense of security. This book deals with some of the issues which arise when a mother becomes seriously ill. The story provides events and characters to respond to, talk about and learn from, and helps children to discuss their concerns and fears. Australian book.
Authors: Carrie Lethborg, Angela Kirsner.
Publisher: St Vincent's Hospital Oncology Unit, available from State Cancer Councils (13 11 20) or St Vincent's Hospital Foundation 03 9288 3364. - Supporting a Person Who Needs Palliative Care. This carers booklet provides a comprehensive, empathetically written, resources about the common issues facing carers during a journey with someone facing an incurable progressive illness. The information is presented in a manner that will empower them in their role as carer and minimise the stresses present during their relative's illness.
Author: Peter Hudson PhD.
Publisher: Palliative Care Victoria, available from Palliative Care Victoria (03 9662 9644) - Lost for Words - How to Talk to Someone with Cancer. Offers advice and practical suggestions for family and friends to talk to, and support someone dealing with cancer. Not Australian
Author/Publisher: BACUP, available from State Cancer Councils (13 11 20) or the be.macmillan website.
Australian Services
- Cancer Australia's Breasthealth link
Cancer Australia website or 1800 624 973
Designed as a one-stop shop for information about breast cancer in Australia, this site provides information on risk factors, early detection, treatment, statistics, resources and research. There is also information on the Centre's publications and media releases, and links to other Internet sites. There are also details of support groups in Australia and online electronic mailing lists which you can join, and information on psychosocial aspects of breast cancer. A number of reports relevant to secondary breast cancer are available on this site. - The Cancer Council's Cancer Helpline
13 11 20
The Cancer Helpline is a free, confidential telephone information and support service run by Cancer Councils in each state and territory. Specially trained staff can answer questions about all apsects of cancer. They can also assist with practical and emotional support and advise callers about specific services appropriate to their needs and location. This service operates Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and can be accessed for the cost of a local call. Some states have extended hours, some have health professionals on staff, and some have multilingual services. - Palliative Care Australia
www.pallcare.org.au or 02 6232 4433
This website provides details of palliative care services in all areas of Australia. - CANTEEN
1800 639 614
CanTeen, the Australian Organisation for Young People Living with Cancer, is a national support organisation for young people (ages 12-24) living with cancer; this includes patients, siblings, bereaved siblings and offspring. Members are able to participate in camps, recreation days, seminars, workshops and most importantly share their hopes and fears, partake in decision making, meet new friends and have fun together. - My Parents' Cancer
www.myparentscancer.com.au
Interactive website for 13-19 year olds. To help families communicate about cancer and assist young people with their emotions. - Boys Do Cry
Cancer Australia website
Provides information to help men manage, when someone they love has breast cancer.
Australian websites
- Aussie Breast Cancer Forum
www.bcaus.org.au
'The Aussie Breast Cancer Forum is an online forum for people with breast cancer and those affected by breast cancer. It has members from all over Australia and aims to overcome the barriers created by distance and isolation to provide support, information and a sense of connection with other members. The forum was originally created in 2005 for a small group of women living with secondary breast cancer who attended BreaCan's 'Here and Now' support group in Melbourne. It is run by volunteers and jointly managed and supported by the Advanced Breast Cancer Group and the Breast Cancer Foundation of Western Australia. - Advanced Breast Cancer Group
www.advancedbreastcancergroup.org
The Advanced Breast Cancer Group launched a website in 2006 which is intended as a resource and support for women living with secondary breast cancer, their partners and families. The website provides information about the Queensland-wide service as well as excerpts from the DVD "You're not Alone: a film about living with secondary breast cancer" which was developed in 2008, and is based on interviews with three women in the group. Women involved in the group share their Stories and Photos, hints and tips, and creative responses to living with secondary breast cancer. There are also articles of interest on treatment and the impact of cancer on children and families, tributes to women who have died, and links to publications, presentations, and services.
International websites
- BCMets.org - Metastatic Breast Cancer Information and Support
www.bcmets.org
This American website is a forum where women with secondary breast cancer can post a question. Since February 2000, many women have shared their experiences of living with secondary breast cancer on the mailing list. The BCMets 'book of knowledge' provides information about secondary breast cancer based on women's contributions over the years. The website does not provide medical advice. - BACKUP
www.cancerbackup.org.uk
Information on secondary breast cancer in general and information about specific sites of secondaries. Also provide information regarding the support needs of children of parents with breast cancer. English site. - BreastCancerCare
www.breastcancercare.org.uk
Information on secondary breast cancer in general and information about specific sites of secondaries. Also information about various treatments for secondary breast cancer. English site. - Patient-Centered Guides Breast Cancer Center
www.patientcenters.com/breastcancer
This resource centre has been created especially for those with secondary breast cancer -- individuals who have been initially diagnosed with Stage IV cancer or who are facing a recurrence. Has sections highlighting current news and recent breast cancer related articles, resources for researching your cancer and treatment, resources for emotional support. American site. - BreastCancerinfo.com
www.komen.org/abc
This site provides detailed information about breast cancer including the management of secondary breast cancer. American site. - MAMM
www.mamm.com
A consumer magazine devoted to the needs of women diagnosed with breast and reproductive cancer. The web site also offers resources and links to various breast cancer organisations. American site. - CancerSymptoms.org
www.cancersymptoms.org
This site provides information about cancer-related symptoms such as fatigue, pain and depression with suggestions for managing these as well as tips on talking with family, health professionals and employers. American site. - People Living with Cancer (American Society of Clinical Oncology)
www.plwc.org
This site provides information about breast cancer, treatment, coping (including information on depression and anxiety), resources and discussion groups. Also has information about talking with your doctors. American site. - National Centre for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
www.nccam.nih.gov/health
This site provides information about complementary and alternative medicines, including information about specific drugs, alerts, research and links to other relevant sites. American site. - Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre Information Resource: About Herbs, Botanicals and Other Products
www.mskcc.org/mskcc/html/11570.cfm
This site provides evidence-based information on herbs, botanicals, vitamins and other supplements, including information about effects, side-effects, drug interactions and other details of each product listed as well as links to scientific research. American site. - Dr Stephen Barrett's Quackwatch Website
www.quackwatch.com
This site has a lot of information on a wide range of unproven remedies.
