The Feeling of Cancer: A psychotherapist's story of living with incurable cancer

Author(s): Sandra Russell

Health, Wellbeing, Medicine

Even though close to half of us will now experience cancer in our lifetime, we tend to talk about it as a biomedical event; of doctors, medical treatment and disease.   We do not talk about cancer as a traumatic emotional event, and because we can’t always express the overwhelming emotional impact, the feelings stay buried inside us, hidden away. Sandra believes that if those of us with cancer can put our feelings into words, then ultimately, we can better understand not just our own needs but also encourage empathy and compassion in others along the way.   Everyone with cancer has an emotional story – a story beyond the disease, beyond the treatment, beyond the prognosis, beyond the medical world – a deeply personal and human story. This is a story that captures something fundamental and unique about dealing with a life-changing illness, and facing your own mortality day-to-day.


Product Information

“I really related to this book and in three ways – as a haematologist, an author, and a friend/family member of others with myeloma and cancer. It’s a compelling, enlightening account of the emotional landscape of living with cancer. This book would appeal to many family members and close friends of those who have been diagnosed with cancer, and undoubtedly, will appeal to those who are living with a diagnosis of cancer.” – Eileen Merriman, haematologist and author

Sandra Russell lives in Auckland, New Zealand with her husband and family. She emigrated to New Zealand in 2001 where she studied to become a psychotherapist. Sandra then spent many years working as a Registered Psychotherapist with adults, couples and families, when a diagnosis of incurable cancer propelled her into a different life with an uncertain future. Having spent her working life helping others manage in times of emotional crisis, she found herself having to navigate through the turmoil of diagnosis, treatment and beyond. The Feeling of Cancer is Sandra's honest and frank account of how she did that. Sandra brings together her different areas of expertise in The Feeling of Cancer. She holds a BA in English Literature (First Class Hons) and a Masters in Health Science, Psychotherapy (First Class Hons). The Feeling of Cancer was written to meet the requirements of a Masters of Creative Writing (First Class Hons) where she made the Dean's List.

General Fields

  • : 9780473656997
  • : Nationwide Books
  • : Nationwide Books
  • : 01 January 2023
  • : books

Special Fields

  • : Sandra Russell