I have a book that was just published with LuLu Publishing. It is finally available at Amazon.com and some bookstores. It is called Cancer, Chemo and Beyond - Survivors And Their Unique Journeys. Everyone with cancer is a survivor from the minute they are diagnosed, as long as they do not fall over dead after hearing the news. Everyone's story is unique because you can have two people with cancer in the same locations receiving exactly the same treatments and have totally different outcomes.

My book includes the stories of people with many different types of cancer. It also includes information for caregivers and a lot of information that could save your life or the life of a loved one if they are ever diagnosed with cancer.

Below is a sample of what is in the book.

My name is Donna Richno, I was 41 in July 2005 when I went for a routine physical and since I had blood in my stool a couple times within a year my doctor had suggested a colonoscopy “just to be on the safe side”.  I thought it seems a little overkill since I had no family history and no symptoms but agreed just to be on the safe side.

After the colonoscopy the doctor came out and said there was a problem.  “This is very serious, you have had it for a long time ” he said and “if you have any siblings they need to be checked immediately”.  He said it looks like colon cancer and referred me to a surgeon.  I was in shock and wondered for a very long time if they had made a mistake.
Then the scans began
After a ct scan the surgeon diagnosed me with stage 4 colon cancer.  That is 4 out of 4 meaning the cancer had spread to distant organs, the liver. About as bad as it could be.  Again, I was in shock.  How could it be this bad when I felt great.  Yeah, sure I had gained a little weight and was a little more tired but who’s not?  No pain, No sick feeling. Nothing.

It was in the colon and in the liver.  At that point the plan was that I would have a colon resection right away then we would decide later what to do about the liver.
The surgeon scheduled the colon resection for 2 weeks later Aug. 2 2005 a date I will never forget.  The surgery went as planned. I was in the hospital for 1 week and recooperating at home for the next 2 weeks.  I went back to work the 3rd week. Which from what I understand is about as good as you can expect.

 The first day I walked into the chemo room expecting a room full of men and women in their 80’s and what do I see? 1 Man not too old maybe 50ish and 9 women between mid 20’s and mid 60’s.
I am surprised how many younger people get cancer.  I am usually the youngest one in waiting rooms for chemo doctors and surgeons so this really surprised me.
I sat down next to the only man in the room and say “So, This is where the misery begins huh?” The man next to me said it’s not too bad I’ve been coming here for awhile. It made me feel a little better. All the nurses in there are great, very caring and explained everything as it went on.
When the 3 1/2 hours of getting an IV of a chemo drug called Avastin was over I felt great. As a matter of fact, I left chemo and walked for about 2 miles. I knew this was just the beginning and it would get worse and it did.
The chemo cycle I was on is:
1st day Avastin-(A new drug whichs attaches directly to cancer cells and kills them. It doesn’t make you sick like the rest of them), 2nd and 3rd day 3 1/2 hours of a drug called 5 FU, leucovorin and oxaliplatin (These have been used for quite awhile) These make you feel wore out and nauseas. The process is called Folfox4. 
They have a pump that you take home the 2nd and 3rd day and you are attached to it. When you go in the 3rd day after the treatment they hook you to another pump which runs for 22 hours then on the 4th day they mercifully disconnect the pump. 
Then I was free for 10 days. I returned for my next cycle on Nov. 7th.
I was hoping the day after they disconnected the pump I would feel better but it took about 3 days after before I got taste back and a little energy. They tell me since the chemo drugs have a cumulative effect It will gradually get worse.  They can’t tell me if I will lose all my hair but they said expect some thinning.

The book can be ordered through the links at the right. It will be available at most bookstores by the end of October. If you do not see it at your local bookstore, ask them and they should be able to order it for you.