Andrea Bonhiver

The Cervical Cancer Companion Andrea Bonhiver

Cervical cancer will always be scary. But it doesn't have to be isolating.
When I was diagnosed with cervical cancer, it was like a bomb went off right in front of me. I couldn't see, I couldn't hear, I couldn't think. I was devastated. Brokenhearted. Terrified. I would frequently stay up all night, feeling around in the dark, looking for hope in the blue light of the internet. But all I found were scholarly articles. Scary ones about women who died from cervical cancer. The invasive and painful treatments I might need. Survival and recurrence rates. Isolation. Fear and anxiety. Cold hard facts. Very few real-life stories.
What I needed was comfort and guidance. I needed someone who had walked the road I was on and knew the way out to grab my hand, hold it tight, and guide me through. I needed to know I wasn't alone, nor was I the first person to face this pain. I needed someone to make sense of the chaos in my mind; Who knew that there's so much planning and logistics involved in having cancer? Organizing caregivers, scheduling surgery and treatments, making calls to insurance companies and specialists, sorting out the details of taking a leave from your job, all while trying to maintain your mental and emotional health as they fall apart, still reeling from that cancer grenade that blew up in your face just weeks ago.
The Cervical Cancer Companion exists to help care for your mental and emotional health and help you process the trauma of cancer as you experience it, with the hope that you can arrive on the other side with a strengthened heart and mind, healthier relationships, and a spirit that is ready to build a new life after cancer.
What's InsidePersonal journal entries from the author through each stage of her experience with cervical cancer. Journaling prompts and open areas to help you process through your own journey. Mantras to keep your heart and mind centered on peace and well-being. Practical tools like caregiver calendars, medication trackers and shopping lists. The knowledge that you're not alone.