order your copy today!

Encouragement and Support

for your breast cancer journey

If you're asking yourself

Feeling Overwhelmed?

When we hear the words, "You have breast cancer," our lives freeze.

We need support and encouragement from people who have walked the path before us.

Read firsthand perspectives about what it’s like to go through breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.

Learn about procedures, surgeries, and key questions to ask as you assemble your care team.

Support your emotional and mental well-being with encouragements at the end of each chapter.

Breast Cancer Survivors are Saying

Jennifer Douglas' book fills a void between a strictly clinical book about breast cancer and a strictly personal memoir of one survivor.

Reading it is like having a very well informed sister or close friend share every step of her journey, the emotional, practical and personal aspects, as well as valuable and understandable information about the medical side. Highly recommend to any woman diagnosed with or suspected to have breast cancer.

Highly informative and profoundly direct, Jennifer’s story is a genuine account of the dizzying journey of breast cancer. This book is one that each newly diagnosed person can benefit from is some way.

I wish I had this at the onset of my own breast cancer voyage!

Ms. Douglas’ book relates her personal account of her experience navigating breast cancer.

This well-written book provides the reader a survival guide that covers all the basics that one might encounter while undergoing a similar diagnosis. Reading such and account can assist anyone to better cope with their own path back to normalcy.

I just want to say WOW! I thought the book was amazing and far surpassed my expectations. I just love how she literally talks about everything in a basic format that the average reader will be able to understand. My favorite part is the mental well-being after each chapter! It is so important.

I chose to focus my reading on chapter six because lumpectomy vs. mastectomy was such a hard decision for me and something I prayed about for 6 months during neoadjuvant therapy. I just loved how Jennifer covered all angles and it was an easy read/one stop shop!

introducing

A Breast Cancer Journey: Living it One Step at a Time

Helping you walk through your journey feeling encouraged and empowered with knowledge and support.

Here's what's inside:

Each chapter is dedicated to a part of the breast cancer journey, making it easy to find just the right information. The first half of the book deals with imaging through surgery, and the second half addresses recovery, post-surgical treatment choices, and what life looks like after active treatment.

My Journey

I thought I would have it “easy” since my cancer was caught at stage zero. I quickly learned that a stage zero breast cancer diagnosis doesn’t mean zero challenges.

Key Information

Included inside each chapter is vital information about procedures, terminology, and treatment options. You’ll be equipped to head into your appointments as an informed and educated patient.

Others' Journeys

Woven into each chapter are quotes from other breast cancer survivors, sharing how they walked through their breast cancer journeys. You’ll benefit from their encouragements every step along the way

Well-being

I was surprised at how anxious and worried I was, right from the start. Taking care of our well-being is a process all throughout this journey. Each chapter has sections on emotional and mental well-being.

after I finished treatment

I wrote the book I wanted to read

One of the questions I kept asking myself was: “If my cancer was caught so early, why is this so hard?”

I pored through so many books during my diagnosis, both medical books and memoirs. I longed for a book written by someone with DCIS, stage zero breast cancer, like me.

As I wrote each word, I imagined sitting down with you, sharing a cup of coffee (or tea), and providing encouragement and hope during these challenging times.

peek inside

Part One

Diagnosis and Surgery

Chapter 1

First Emotion: I'm Overwhelmed

My Journey: What was it like to get diagnosed with breast cancer after only my second annual mammogram?

Feeling overwhelmed and emotional? You’re not alone.

Others’ Journeys: Paths to Diagnosis

Mental Well-Being: Getting Organized and Managing our New Priorities.

Emotional Well-Being: Raw and Unfiltered emotions

Chapter 2

Choosing a Surgeon &
Getting a Second Opinion

My Journey: Why did I decide to get a second opinion?

Who might be on your cancer care team?

Others’ Journeys: Second (or third) opinions

Mental Well-Being: Proceeding one step at a time.

Emotional Well-Being: Being aware of your emotions.

Chapter 3

Imaging: Learning a New Language (Besides French) in My Forties

My Journey: Imaging and the eventful MRI.

What types of imaging might be ordered and how do we understand the results?

Others’ Journeys: Imaging

Mental Well-Being: Appointment logistics and communication

Emotional Well-Being: Coping with difficult emotions during the imaging process.

Chapter 4

Biopsies, So Many Biopsies:
Is This Over Yet?

My Journey: Dealing with five biopsies.

Why are biopsies needed? What are the different types of biopsies? How do we prepare and recover from biopsies?

Others’ Journeys: Biopsies and Results

Mental Well-Being: Waiting for results and planning ahead.

Emotional Well-Being: Recognizing fear, anxiety, and worry. Developing strategies to cultivate calmness.

Chapter 5

Diagnosis Day: Really?
Breast Cancer for My Birthday?

My Journey: Results Day, Take Two

What information might be revealed from the biopsy pathology? How do we share the news?

Others’ Journeys: Sharing with Work

Mental Well-Being: Waiting for results and planning ahead.

Emotional Well-Being: Dealing with Strong Emotions

Chapter 6

Making a Surgical Game Plan

My Journey: Mastectomy or Lumpectomy? How I made my decision to have a lumpectomy.

Surgical options, reconstruction choices, and genetic testing.

Others’ Journeys: Surgical Decisions

Mental Well-Being: Owning Your Surgical Choice

Emotional Well-Being: Anger and Frustration about Breast Cancer

Chapter 7

Preparation for Surgery:
So Many Things to Do

My Journey: A delayed surgery makes for changes in the plan.

How do we get organized before surgery, both with the medical to-dos and with the other areas of our lives? How do we plan ahead for the support we will need?

Others’ Journeys: Preparing for Surgery

Mental Well-Being: Embracing Imperfection

Emotional Well-Being: Fear of the Unknown

Chapter 8

Surgery Day: Facing the Unknown

My Journey: Complicated emotions and a long surgery day.

What is it like to have the localization procedure done? How the surgery day may flow for you.

Others’ Journeys: Unexpected challenges during and after surgery.

Mental Well-Being: Expecting the unexpected on surgery day.

Emotional Well-Being: Voicing our fears and concerns.

Part Two

Post-Surgery: Additional Treatment Decisions & Recovery

Chapter 9

Soft Landing: Optimizing for Early Recovery

My Journey: Challenges in delegating during the first few days of recovery. Feeling relieved that this part of the process is done.

How do we set our homes up for the best recovery possible? How to ask for (and receive) help. How do we optimize our comfort as we are dealing with our bodies healing?

Others’ Journeys: Recovery from Surgery

Mental Well-Being: Balancing effort and energy.

Emotional Well-Being: One step forward, two steps back.

Chapter 10

The Beat Goes On:
Oncology & Post-Surgical Choices

My Journey: Surgical follow-ups and deciding what additional treatment options to choose.

Reading and asking questions about your final pathology report. What kinds of tests might be ordered? Information about radiation, endocrine, chemotherapy, and targeted therapies.

Others’ Journeys: Chemotherapy

Mental Well-Being: Processing information

Emotional Well-Being: A long pathway to acceptance.

Chapter 11

Radiation: Bring Headphones

My Journey: Meeting my radiation oncologist.

What is it like to go through radiation treatment? How can we prepare for and address common side effects?

Others’ Journeys: Radiation Experiences and Tips

Mental Well-Being: Dealing with mental fatigue and logistics.

Emotional Well-Being: Accepting a season of emotional exhaustion.

Chapter 12

Breast Cancer Swirl: Handling Complex Post-Treatment Emotions (Yours & Theirs)

My Journey: Family chaos- what was it like behind our closed doors?

Breast cancer impacts everyone in our lives, even when our active treatment is finished. How can we support all aspects of our recovery- physical, mental, and emotional?

Others’ Journeys: Returning to work

Mental Well-Being: Unexpected brain fog

Emotional Well-Being: Acknowledging the fears of recurrence.

Chapter 13

Sex. Yes, Sex (or Lack Thereof)

My Journey: My breasts were no longer symbols of my femininity.

Our sex lives will be impacted during and after treatment. How do we find ways to deal with this– especially when sex can be so hard to talk about.

Others’ Journeys: Sex is a difficult topic to discuss

Mental Well-Being: Accepting a season of low desire and new challenges.

Emotional Well-Being: Building intimacy outside the bedroom and talking through frustrating feelings.

Chapter 14

Finding a New Beautiful: Getting to Know the Post-Cancer You

My Journey: Redefining my personal style during and after cancer.

As we head into our survivorship journey, we may feel and look different. How do we deal with scanxiety? Will we make lifestyle changes after cancer?

Others’ Journeys: Post-treatment changes

Mental Well-Being: Treatment is done, now what?

Emotional Well-Being: Choosing a recovery mindset.

I'm ready for all the encouragement!

Reviews and Praise

A Breast Cancer Journey is a fantastic guide for anyone newly diagnosed with breast cancer.

Packed with vital details for understanding a breast cancer diagnosis, planning treatment and navigating recovery, Jennifer Douglas’s book should be on every oncologist’s shelf.

“A Breast Cancer Journey: Living it One Step at a Time,” is a perfect book for a person who is newly diagnosed with breast cancer. It will become your “Best Friend” as you navigate your new breast cancer diagnosis.

It goes into detail on how to handle emotions as you are diagnosed, choosing a surgeon, when you should get a second opinion, learning about imaging, understanding what happens with a biopsy, diagnosis, surgical game plan what to expect on surgery day, post surgical treatments and how to navigate life after treatments are completed. I love that Jennifer talks about, “Sex after cancer”- one of the most important conversations that may or may not happen with your Doctor. It is all about quality of life . This book will be an excellent guide and easy to read.

Like having coffee with a loving older sister, Jennifer Douglas shares her experience, offers insights and advice, and provides a guided tour through the physical and emotional challenges of a breast cancer diagnosis, while never losing sight of the reality that cancer and the experiences it inflects on us are as varied as we are.

As you read, you can practically feel her comforting hand reaching across the table to give you a squeeze. A must read for anyone with a diagnosis.

You've been diagnosed with DCIS and are thinking, 'now what'?

Jennifer A. Douglas offers guidance, inspiration, and invaluable resource for you. Follow Jennifer's breast cancer journey and make it part of your journey. This book is gem!

I'm still wondering, is this the book for me?

It's the right book if:

It's the wrong book if:

order your copy today

Helping you walk through your breast cancer journey feeling encouraged and empowered with knowledge and support.

Available in softcover (list price $19.99) and e-book (list price $9.99).

Hi, and Welcome!

I'm Jennifer!

In 2019, I was diagnosed with DCIS, Stage Zero Breast Cancer, at 41. In a flash, I went from being a healthy mom to a cancer patient.

I quickly learned that stage zero cancer doesn’t mean zero challenges.