Be an active patient
I've been collecting lots of useful help recently for my project to write a book.
Last week I met with Phil Kerslake, author of what I think is one of the best and most helpful books for the NZ cancer community: "Life, Happiness and Cancer".
Phil's book talks about the importance of action & attitude as a patient, and presents a well balanced set of information that's relevant for everybody affected, including families, partners, friends as well as the patient themselves.
Phil very kindly agreed to talk with me for some advice & tips on writing my book. He had some very helpful tips about clarifying the structure & vision of a book, as well as the publishing and promotion process.
Phil had a neat way of helping clarify the "type" of book and its structure. He asked: how do you want your readers feel at the end of it? Which movie would your book most be like, in terms of the way you want your readers to experience & feel? Or, which piece of music, in terms of the response or experience you want for your readers?
Plus, it was great to talk about all the business of being an active patient; a running theme in Phil's book and something I strongly believe in. The importance of taking an active interest in the treatment you're receiving, being aware of the options you have, their pros & cons, and taking action to support your treatment. And the importance of not giving up, ever!
We'll all be patients at some stage in life, so it's a good principle to learn and adopt.
When I was in hospital after my main surgery, it was important to me to understand what was going on with my treatment. Since I couldn't speak, I would write notes to my doctors to tell them how different parts of my body felt, and ask them questions about what was happening.
I even drew them pictures. Being rather shaky-handed at the time, and lacking any drawing skills or talents, my medical diagrams left a lot to be desired.... but they did the job!
