After Breast Cancer: A recovery handbook

by Sara Liyanage

'Once treatment stops, and people leave strictly managed clinical environments, survivors feel as though they had "fallen off a cliff edge"... feeling isolated and abandoned at a time when support is needed the most'.  -  Mental Health Foundation

From the final infusion to the five-year check,  After Breast Cancer  gives a step-by-step support package to coping post-treatment. It follows on from Sara Liyanage's successful coverage of diagnosis and treatment in  Ticking Off Breast Cancer,  and is driven not only by her experience of illness, but underpinned by contributions from leading oncologists, heads of cancer services, and clinical consultant psychologists.

With a readable blend of informality and medically endorsed insight,  After Breast Cancer  has an optimistic outlook and a reassuring tone, but doesn't flinch from discussing the possibility of secondary cancer, or the full impact of treatment and surgery on you or your loved one. It features a huge amount of practical information, including a full toolkit for navigating the days post-treatment - including breathing exercises, mindfulness meditation, journaling, affirmations and a healthy bedtime routine.

Designed for women of all backgrounds, whatever the nature of their diagnosis, this blend of approachability, lived experience and medical insight puts the power firmly back in your hands, as a breast cancer survivor.

288 pages, Paperback

Published September 5, 2023

About the author

I'm the author of two books about breast cancer. The first is Ticking Off Breast Cancer (2019), a book about juggling life with treatment for primary breast cancer at the age of forty-two. This book follows the physical and emotional impact of breast cancer on my life, and provides practical help by way of checklists at the end of each chapter. The second is After Breast Cancer: A Recovery Manual (2023) which is a guide to coping with the challenges that come with completing treatment for primary breast cancer. I'm also the founder of www.tickingoffbreastcancer.com, a website dedicated to helping people through their breast cancer treatment and their friends and family - which merged with Future Dreams Breast Cancer Charity in 2021 and I now run their online support hub where people impacted by breast cancer can find information, tips and signposts to further resources.

Reviews

[Sarah G · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book really wasn’t for me. As noted in other reviews it’s overwhelmingly negative (particularly the testimonials), and very waffly with long analogies and explanations. If you didn’t know anything about breast cancer it would be helpful, but survivors generally have a good knowledge and it just didn’t connect with my experience.

[Louisa Charlotte Phillips · Rating 1 out of 5]

All I kept thinking, hoping for help and positivity was - 'is there actually ANY good news in this book?'

[Tania · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stopped reading it as found it wasn’t true to my experience.
Annoyed me that it said your health care team look after your mental health as well as your physical health. In my experience not true at all. Others may enjoy the book but it’s not for me.

[Sarah Whittleston · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of practical wisdom, encouraging stories and permission to process cancer. A great toolkit of ideas to help you do that too. Sara weaves her own story, the insight of experts and the real life experiences of so many women. A great resource for anyone recovering from breast cancer.