Braving Chemo: What to Expect, How to Prepare and How to Get Through It

by Beverly A. Zavaleta MD

Getting cancer is like a bomb going off in your life.

Having chemotherapy can feel like another bomb.

If you’re getting ready for chemotherapy, you probably have many questions—but searching for answers on the internet can be overwhelming and the pamphlets from your oncologist don’t begin to tell you all you need to know. You may be scared, confused or exhausted. You’ll want to know what to expect and how to prepare for chemotherapy – and so will your loved ones who are supporting you.

In this concise and comforting guidebook, Braving Chemo, Harvard-educated physician and breast cancer survivor Beverly A. Zavaleta MD cuts through the confusion to provide you with clear answers to your most urgent chemotherapy questions, such

Can I keep my hair from falling out?What should I eat?How can I keep my spirits up when I’m worried about dying?Combining her medical expertise with a survivor’s experience and insight, Dr. Zavaleta provides practical advice on topics such as where to find reliable information about your treatment regimen, what you should take to your chemo session, and how to keep up your strength. Braving Chemo also confronts the challenges of cancer recovery and coping with fear and pain.

Whether you’re a chemotherapy patient or a cancer caregiver, Braving Chemo is a valuable resource about what to expect during chemo, how to minimize the side effects and how to live life as normally as possible when life itself is on the line.

For more information on Braving Chemo and Dr. Zavaleta, visit her website at www.BeverlyZavaletaMD.com or follow her on Twitter and Instagram @BZavaletaMD.

242 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 11, 2019

About the author

Beverly A. Zavaleta, MD is a board-certified family physician, cancer survivor and long-time advocate of patient education. After receiving her medical degree from Harvard Medical School, where she designed and implemented an asthma patient education program, she completed her residency training in family medicine at Christus Santa Rosa Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. In 2015 she was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer and underwent a grueling chemotherapy regimen. That experience, along with her experience as a doctor treating patients with cancer, led her to turn her attention to filling the gap in chemotherapy-focused patient education materials by writing Braving Chemo. Dr. Zavaleta practices as a primary care physician and her health-related articles have appeared in the Brownsville Herald and on KevinMD. She lives in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas with her husband, two sons and two dogs, and when not making a mess of her garden, she is reading or doing yoga. For bonus material, more chemotherapy tips and Braving Chemo updates sign up at BeverlyZavaletaMD.com or follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @BZavaletaMD.

Reviews

[Carola Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by a family physician who became a patient, Braving Chemo goes straight to the point. The book has valuable objective tips and covers all points of treatment. I recommend it to adult cancer patients and caregivers. Important note: During cancer treatment, do not take any medicine without the prescription of your oncologist (as the author warns many times), because they may cause drug interactions and be harmful.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book - practical, readable, relatable. Very grounded and grounding. Offers solid facts and most importantly it doesn’t terrorize the reader. Instead, it equips the reader with information. Beautifully done.

[Gary Regan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Overview
Getting cancer is like a bomb going off in your life.Having chemotherapy can feel like another bomb. Well folks that pretty much says it all.

In 2010 I had most of my left lung removed for in a nine hour operation for lung cancer. It was supposed to be a two hour arthroscopic incision but my lung was fused to my rib cage and like they ya never know until you do. Thank God for Dr. Sundhir Sundaresan and his team.

I was cancer free for 5 years and then in 2015 it came back in my lungs and I've had three radiations since then on my lung and two in my spine where it metasized last year. I'm getting more spinal radiation this week on May 7th. But you see, I've never had chemo and as the cancer has returned to my lungs I was afraid , deathly afraid that was what I was looking at. Chemo scares the hell out of me.
Anyway, I found out this morning that it's too early to go to chemo as the tumors are small and I seem to be fighting cancer pretty well and my medical team has taken a wait and see approach fir now. For that I am grateful.

I am also very, very grateful for Dr. Zavaleta for putting this book together. I read it in one day and no doubt will return to it again and again as chemo for me is not a matter of if, but when. The book helped calm me down and provided me with so much insight and practical information to once again face this monster from a different front. The book is easy to read and has provided me with a lot of resource material to face what lays ahead, Once again Thanks

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Zavaleta gave me an e-book copy of Braving Chemo because I was in the midst of deciding whether to endure chemo or not as part of my cancer treatment. Dr. Zavaleta, a family physician and herself a cancer survivor wrote this book after her own experiences with chemo.

I think everyone who is facing cancer treatment, their loved ones, caregivers and even those already having chemo should have a copy of this book to reference whenever they have a need. It’s full of tips and hints on what to do for all side effects from losing your hair to neuropathy.

She also addresses the spiritual side of being involved with cancer. It’s not just a physical disease, but it is also highly emotional. Each and every chapter is chocked full of links so you can read more on that topic. At the end you’ll find pages and pages full of sources verifying what she wrote in the book, but also places where you can delve further into what info you need at the moment.

You can read it straight through or skip to the chapters that explain what concerns you now. I highly recommend “Braving Chemo” for anyone dealing with cancer.

I hope she writes more. I would love to read about radiation and Aromatase Inhibitors next.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The "How to Handle Chemo Survival Guide" all chemotherapy patients should read before (and during) their treatment phases. Combining her knowledge as a doctor with her experience as a patient/survivor, Dr. Zavaleta crafts an in-depth and easy to follow guide for those facing cancer.

This is the book I wish I had when I was going through my own cancer journey and I will be recommending it to future patients.

Thank you to the author and netgalley for a copy to read and review.

[Bobbie Stergar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was just what I needed to prepare for chemo therapy and all of the side effects. It helped me be better prepared and to utilize alternative treatments such as supplements to minimize neuropathy, knowing why my hair/scalp hurt as my hair was falling out, and using acupuncture to help nausea. The author presents evidence based information, which allows each person to determine what might be helpful for her/him. Highly recommended for anyone who has to have chemotherapy.

[Gogs Gagnon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Braving Chemo is an excellent, comprehensive resource for anyone going through or knows anyone going through chemotherapy. I only wish it was available when my sister was going through her chemotherapy treatments. The information would have helped her tremendously and helped me become a better caregiver during her time of need.

[Bob Riter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is what I've been waiting for. It's an accessible, clear and well-organized book about getting through chemotherapy. It's designed for browsing and provides excellent resources for follow-up. It belongs in the lending library of cancer support organizations and oncology offices, and is the perfect book for someone beginning chemo.

[Kim Harms · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very insightful book for someone going through chemo. It's full of practical stuff and doesn't have to be read straight through. I've picked it up at various times throughout my chemo to read about specific topics. Will definitely pass it along to someone else now that I'm about to the end of treatment.

[Stefanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Going through Chemo myself this book was soooooo helpful to me to navigate the mental and physical challenges that come with Cancer and the effects of Chemo, I used a lot of the tips she gave in the book

[Norma Provencio Pichardo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank God I Bought this Book

After reading this book, I felt so much more confident walking into Chemotherapy. I highly recommend this book. Thank you Dr. Zavaleta for writing this book. It took away a lot of the fear I was feeling prior to chemo.

[Mike Ziewers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m here and what to expect from chemo

Learn what to expect from chemo, pros and cons. It is all not doom and gloom, but it is hard.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

good for the first timer..going thru chemo

[Antonia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s so stark the difference between words and experience, a gulf that can never be breached so my feeling about the book has to do with experience and nothing about the Author. Chemo is horrendous and anyone who goes through it must find strength from elsewhere to make it through.
This book does provide helpful pointers for certain things but everyone’s case is different hence it's limitation. I appreciate the authors experience with this and I feel so much for her, glad she is on the other side.

[BreeAnn (She Just Loves Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I Loved: Beverly A. Zavaleta has written a guide to chemo for cancer patients and family that takes some of the guesswork out of a very stressful and trying time. I loved the way the book was structured with clear sections on different topics. It would make it an easy resource if someone is looking for information on a specific topic.

How I Felt: When I picked this book up, I was a bit concerned that it would be above-my-head language, but I found that it is written in a very easy to understand way. I think that the author’s medical experience as well as person experience as a cancer patient helped her to form a wonderful resource for those who need it.

To Read or Not To Read: I’m going to take this from the author’s note in the beginning of the book. The main thought is that if treatment for you or a loved one is going to undergo chemotherapy, this is a good book for you.

You should read this book if:

You have been diagnosed with cancer and will be starting chemotherapy.
You are currently undergoing chemotherapy.
You are caring for someone who is having chemotherapy and want to learn more about what they are going through.
You have a friend or loved one who is having chemotherapy and you want to give them this book as a gift.
What’s This Book About Anyway?
Braving Chemo by Beverly A. Zavaleta has written a medical go-to for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy mixed with the love and thoughtful comments of a cancer survivor.

The book is structured to provide answers and guidance on the numerous questions and concerns a cancer patient will have as they begin chemotherapy. It covers what to expect during chemotherapy, how to discuss treatment with friends and family, how to handle nausea and so many more topics.

I received an advanced reader's copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

All of my reviews can be found at: https://shejustlovesbooks.com/