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Second Wind: Thriving With Cancer
"Don't you ever get tired of being so positive?" my niece blurted out one day.
The question shocked me, five years into my fight with lung cancer. Was my enthusiasm about remaining treatment options so disheartening that even someone normally upbeat struggled to see the hope in my situation? Was the way I was thinking that foreign to how other people think?
Over the next year, I came to understand that having cancer had changed more than my body. It had changed how I think. I had grown. Not in spite of cancer, but because of it. Now I treasure every new part of this adventure, as I have learned to not only survive with lung cancer, but to thrive with it.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT SECOND WIND
This is one of the most thoughtful and useful books I've read, and certainly a must-read for anyone in the health professions. Beyond that, it is an amazing book for any of us trying to live consciously on this planet… I loved reading this!!! I laughed out loud several times!
~ Dawn Doutrich, Ph.D., RN, CNS Emeritus, Washington State University College of Nursing
Second Wind is emotionally gripping. There is a rare intimacy as Dann leads readers through his journey. The book is hard to put down. As a survivor I found myself saying, “I felt that, too!”
~ Charlotte de Renne, Breast Cancer Survivor
Dann's heartfelt, sincere account of his cancer journey touched me deeply. His work is inspirational and positive! I’m buying one copy for me, one for a friend that was newly diagnosed with stage IV cancer, and one for my oncologist.
~ Ginny Hicks, Stage IV Lung Cancer Survivor and Advocate
Dann is an extraordinary writer. He has clarity of thought and a level of introspection that rings true, and I believe encapsulates the experience many of my patients have.
~ Sandip Patel, MD, Oncologist, UCSD Moores Cancer Center
This book is engaging, thought provoking and emotionally charged. Learning to meet and accept life with joy on life’s terms is no small task. From the plethora of emotions to managing relationships, and from fighting the stigma to becoming your own health care advocate, the writer shows us his roadmap.
I commend this writer for sharing his journey with truth.
~ Bill Hogan, Cancer Caregiver
Second Wind is honest, vulnerable and informative! It will open a lot of eyes about how to advocate for oneself.
While anyone with cancer will get a lot out of this book, I wish I could have read it three and a half years ago, when I was first diagnosed.
~ Dawn Horner, Lung Cancer Survivor and Advocate
This story is a very good map for beating cancer. It is also an excellent map for living an authentic, fulfilling and loving life. In some of the most intimate ways, Dann reveals who he is.
~ Charles Brown, DC DABCN, Chiropractic Neurologist
Fantastic start to finish true life story of Tragedy to Triumph! Dann’s personal cancer journey is filled with miracles and overcoming obstacles of getting to the other side. Proof there’s a path to happiness for anyone struggling and/or dealing with adversity (of any sort). Can’t recommend it enough!
~ Randall Broad, Lung Cancer Survivor and Author, ‘It’s an Extraordinary Life – Don’t Miss it’
This writer invites you inside all aspects of his emotional, spiritual, and practical life as he goes toe-to-toe with cancer, and comes out a winner.
The book is authentic and packed with take-aways. Anyone, with or without cancer, can benefit from reading Second Wind.
~ Linda Wolff, OTR, Occupational Therapist
This is an uplifting read for anyone dealing adversity of any kind. It's honest and relatable, and made me evaluate my own perspective on life. I really enjoyed the optional "challenge exercises" that made me dig deep and access my own outlook.
~ Lysa Buonanno, Lung Cancer Survivor, Advocate, and Blogger at
The question shocked me, five years into my fight with lung cancer. Was my enthusiasm about remaining treatment options so disheartening that even someone normally upbeat struggled to see the hope in my situation? Was the way I was thinking that foreign to how other people think?
Over the next year, I came to understand that having cancer had changed more than my body. It had changed how I think. I had grown. Not in spite of cancer, but because of it. Now I treasure every new part of this adventure, as I have learned to not only survive with lung cancer, but to thrive with it.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT SECOND WIND
This is one of the most thoughtful and useful books I've read, and certainly a must-read for anyone in the health professions. Beyond that, it is an amazing book for any of us trying to live consciously on this planet… I loved reading this!!! I laughed out loud several times!
~ Dawn Doutrich, Ph.D., RN, CNS Emeritus, Washington State University College of Nursing
Second Wind is emotionally gripping. There is a rare intimacy as Dann leads readers through his journey. The book is hard to put down. As a survivor I found myself saying, “I felt that, too!”
~ Charlotte de Renne, Breast Cancer Survivor
Dann's heartfelt, sincere account of his cancer journey touched me deeply. His work is inspirational and positive! I’m buying one copy for me, one for a friend that was newly diagnosed with stage IV cancer, and one for my oncologist.
~ Ginny Hicks, Stage IV Lung Cancer Survivor and Advocate
Dann is an extraordinary writer. He has clarity of thought and a level of introspection that rings true, and I believe encapsulates the experience many of my patients have.
~ Sandip Patel, MD, Oncologist, UCSD Moores Cancer Center
This book is engaging, thought provoking and emotionally charged. Learning to meet and accept life with joy on life’s terms is no small task. From the plethora of emotions to managing relationships, and from fighting the stigma to becoming your own health care advocate, the writer shows us his roadmap.
I commend this writer for sharing his journey with truth.
~ Bill Hogan, Cancer Caregiver
Second Wind is honest, vulnerable and informative! It will open a lot of eyes about how to advocate for oneself.
While anyone with cancer will get a lot out of this book, I wish I could have read it three and a half years ago, when I was first diagnosed.
~ Dawn Horner, Lung Cancer Survivor and Advocate
This story is a very good map for beating cancer. It is also an excellent map for living an authentic, fulfilling and loving life. In some of the most intimate ways, Dann reveals who he is.
~ Charles Brown, DC DABCN, Chiropractic Neurologist
Fantastic start to finish true life story of Tragedy to Triumph! Dann’s personal cancer journey is filled with miracles and overcoming obstacles of getting to the other side. Proof there’s a path to happiness for anyone struggling and/or dealing with adversity (of any sort). Can’t recommend it enough!
~ Randall Broad, Lung Cancer Survivor and Author, ‘It’s an Extraordinary Life – Don’t Miss it’
This writer invites you inside all aspects of his emotional, spiritual, and practical life as he goes toe-to-toe with cancer, and comes out a winner.
The book is authentic and packed with take-aways. Anyone, with or without cancer, can benefit from reading Second Wind.
~ Linda Wolff, OTR, Occupational Therapist
This is an uplifting read for anyone dealing adversity of any kind. It's honest and relatable, and made me evaluate my own perspective on life. I really enjoyed the optional "challenge exercises" that made me dig deep and access my own outlook.
~ Lysa Buonanno, Lung Cancer Survivor, Advocate, and Blogger at
255 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 3, 2018
42 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 1, 2019
This truly is an inspirational story. Dann hasn’t’ taken on and beaten lung cancer once, but twice! He refuses to give into the disease and have it control his life. He has accepted the disease and met it head on. It’s his upbeat attitude that drives the story. He knows the odds and does everything within his power and his doctors to keep extending his life without destroying his quality of life. Yes, chemo is rough. Having four lobes removed is tough. But, instead of playing the “woe is me card,” he takes on each new challenge and looks for the positive in each step of his battle. That, my friends, is what the story is about.
If you’re looking for a pity party, look elsewhere. There is nothing in this story asking the reader to feel sorry for me. NO! It’s, “Okay, I have what? How do I beat it? What is the newest treatment on the market? How long will it extend my life? Who else can benefit for the new discovery?
And then there’s his partner in crime, advocate and wife, Genevie. She is a light-hearted, artist, no nonsense women. Most of the time she comes across as a mild manner Lois Lane. However, when a doctor tells the both of them the insurance company will only for two of the three prescribed drugs, she turns into XENA! Why. Because she not ready by a long shot to say goodbye to her best friend and no insurance company is going to be responsible for such foolishness.
This is the second theme of the story. Dann is not ready to stop spending time or loving those who are closest to him.
What would Dann recommend for those who do not have insurance? Perhaps that could a book unto itself.
Who will like this. Anyone battling or knows someone battling cancer and looking for different outlook on the disease.
Four Stars
If you’re looking for a pity party, look elsewhere. There is nothing in this story asking the reader to feel sorry for me. NO! It’s, “Okay, I have what? How do I beat it? What is the newest treatment on the market? How long will it extend my life? Who else can benefit for the new discovery?
And then there’s his partner in crime, advocate and wife, Genevie. She is a light-hearted, artist, no nonsense women. Most of the time she comes across as a mild manner Lois Lane. However, when a doctor tells the both of them the insurance company will only for two of the three prescribed drugs, she turns into XENA! Why. Because she not ready by a long shot to say goodbye to her best friend and no insurance company is going to be responsible for such foolishness.
This is the second theme of the story. Dann is not ready to stop spending time or loving those who are closest to him.
What would Dann recommend for those who do not have insurance? Perhaps that could a book unto itself.
Who will like this. Anyone battling or knows someone battling cancer and looking for different outlook on the disease.
Four Stars
December 9, 2019
Extremely helpful book even if you do not have cancer or are supporting a loved one or friend who does have cancer! This book serves as a map for helping a person navigate any difficult situation, be it cancer of any physical issue that was unexpected that impacts a person's life "negatively". His questions help a person see that there are gifts in any situation. He provides questions at the end of each chapter to help you bring forward the blessings in something that would appear to be very bad news. In my case, I had a tendon injury that prevented me from my usual gardening activities - for months. As I read about his journey of addressing cancer as a "blessing in disguise" (my term), I was able to see that the tendon injury held many lessons and opportunities for me. As one door had closed, others had opened. It's one thing to put on a happy face for others, but it's another thing to open your eyes to deeper issues of giving and receiving love, recognizing places where you have shut people out, or simply stopped being your essential self. Not only do I recommend this for anyone dealing with any "scary" disease, but I recommend that we all read it and "grow"!
May 4, 2022
This is an inspiring memoir by a longterm survivor of metastatic lung cancer. His advice about living in the moment, maintaining a positive attitude, and advocating for one's own care should be taken to heart as it is equally applicable for coping with many other challenges in life.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews