The Hero's Journey

By Lib Heyward

Being diagnosed with a blood cancer like Leukaemia, Lymphoma, Myeloma or a related blood disorder can be a tremendous shock. The Hero’s Journey explains the roller-coaster of emotional and psychological reactions you can experience as you face the challenges of treatment and a future living with uncertainty.

Combining the personal qualities you possess with the skills provided in this book, find more productive ways to cope as you undertake this journey.

Easy-to read segments and a down-to-earth style make this a valuable guide for you and your family.

This book is written specifically for those with blood cancer, but applies to any type of cancer.

Discover practical ways to:
•Reduce worry
•Manage over-thinking
•Cope with the effects on your relationships
•Build better communication
•Face the prospect of relapse
•Maintain hope in the face of uncertainty

Lib Heyward is a Clinical Psychologist practising in Tasmania, Australia. With over 26 years experience, she now works in private practice. Lib has presented in a wide variety of forums and believes that providing information is a way to empower people to live richer and more meaningful lives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lib Heyward
• Release date: Jul 27, 2017
• ISBN: 9780987614414

Lib Heyward

Lib Heyward is a Clinical Psychologist practising in Tasmania, Australia. With over 26 years experience, she now works in private practice. Lib has presented in a wide variety of forums and believes that providing information is a way to empower people to live richer and more meaningful lives.

Book preview

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The Hero’s Journey

Living with blood cancer

By Lib Heyward

The Hero’s Journey: Living with blood cancer by Lib Heyward.

ISBN: 978-0-9876144-0-7 (paperback)

ISBN: 978-0-9876144-1-4 (ebook)

Copyright © Lib Heyward, Launceston, 2017.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published in 2017 by Lib Heyward, Launceston

Website: libheyward.com.au

National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry

Creator: Heyward, Lib, author.

Title: The Hero’s Journey : living with blood cancer / Lib Heyward ;

Merridy Pugh, editor and illustrator.

ISBN: 978-0-9876144-1-4 (eBook)

Subjects: Cancer--Patients--Family relationships.

Blood--Cancer--Patients--Family relationships

Blood--Cancer--Patients--Care.

Blood--Cancer--Patients--Treatment.

Blood--Cancer--Patients--Diagnosis.

Blood--Cancer--Patients--Psychological aspects

Leukemia--Psychological aspects

Other Creators/Contributors:

Pugh, Merridy, editor, illustrator.

Design by Merridy Anne Pugh, Tasmania (merridypugh.com)

Printing by Bokprint Pty Ltd, Launceston (bokprint.com.au)

Smashwords Edition

To Russ, Angus and Jen – with love always

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The idea for this book didn’t come to me — it was given to me by a participant at a workshop. To this person and to all my clients, workshop attendees and their families, this book is for you. I have been privileged to listen to your stories and share your innermost thoughts and this has educated me in a way that is only possible when vulnerable people share what is most meaningful to them. Thank you — this book is a reflection of what you have told me is important and useful for you.

To my editor and illustrator, Merridy Pugh – you got this right from the start and I am very grateful for the way you have helped me bring this book to life. Your clear and concise thinking has meant that I didn’t get lost, and your positive approach has been a steady source of encouragement.

The greatest debt I owe is to my immediate family who have been a constant source of love and patience. You have listened tirelessly to my ideas, re-writes and brainstorms. I’d like to say you can rest easy now — but I doubt I will let that happen!

Finally, I am someone for whom my life informs my work. My own journey with leukaemia has been largely a private one because I needed time to learn to manage it on a personal level and then let it sit separate from how I might hear another patient’s story. That has taken 16 years and now the time has arrived to distil all I have learnt from both my personal journey and my professional work into this book for fellow travellers. i1

PREFACE

The Hero’s Journey focuses on ways to manage the emotional and psychological journey which confronts people diagnosed with blood cancer — leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and related blood disorders. If you are going through this, this book aims to help you in a number of ways.

What’s so special and different about this book?

This book tells you about the common reactions following a diagnosis of blood cancer. While some of the physical struggle with coping with cancer comes from the treatment and its side effects, much of the stress comes from the inner struggle you can experience in coming to terms with the situation and trying not to cave in to the anxiety and fear which such a diagnosis engenders. There is also the pressure of trying not to burden family and friends with worry.

Much practical information required to manage a diagnosis of cancer is available through a variety of sources including books, websites and support organisations (e.g. Leukaemia Foundation). These provide medical information, including information about different types of cancers, treatment options, and side effects; coping strategies; information for partners and carers; and personal stories. All of this information is relevant and enables patients and carers to have some sense of direction and empowerment.

What does this book cover?

This book does not seek to replicate this information but looks specifically at the emotional and psychological effects of the diagnosis and subsequent treatment. It looks at how to manage the common but often understated issues of worry, over-thinking, uncertainty, the effects on relationships, and

relapse(s).

It covers the all-important signs which tell you when these issues become serious enough to affect your emotional well-being and require further professional assistance.

The book explains how the human brain influences how you behave so that you and your family can understand your reactions. As many responses are hard-wired, the book explains how the reactions happen, their purpose, and suggestions on how to manage them.

By providing this information, the aim is to add a psychological dimension