COMP CLOSED | Book Giveaway | The Feeling of Cancer

A psychotherapist shares her own deeply personal experience of confronting the emotional challenges of living with incurable cancer.

Cancer can threaten not just your life, but your very identity. Shocked by the devastating emotional impact of a diagnosis of incurable cancer, psychotherapist Sandra Russell takes us on her six-year search for ways to live this changed life.

The Feeling of Cancer draws us into the intimate world of her emotional states, beyond the physical and medical demands of modern cancer treatment, revealing her most vulnerable feelings as she navigates a traumatic diagnosis, intensive treatment, eventual remission and the devastation of relapse.

In this honest, powerful and affecting account of her lived reality, Sandra shows how making sense of her feelings ultimately allows her to find herself again and gain a level of inner peace.

‘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

‘A moving, forceful human account of facing our greatest fears and finding a way to navigate them towards inner peace.’ – Mandy Hager

About the author:

Sandra Russell lives in Devonport, Auckland with her husband and family. After working in the UK as a Careers Counsellor and becoming the first in the country to be part of a multi-disciplinary Youth Offending Team, 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 developed for a Masters of Creative Writing (First Class Hons) where she made the Dean’s List. However, this is by no means an academic book, but a human story told with depth from the heart, which she hopes readers will relate to.

Terms and conditions

1. 1. You must be a GrownUps member and receive our newsletter to be eligible to win.
   2. Competition closes on the 28th February 2023, winners will be notified via email by 2nd March 2023.
   3. It is your responsibility to ensure you correctly enter a New Zealand postal address where the prize can be couriered. GrownUps will not take responsibility for prizes sent to incorrect addresses.
   4. Winners are drawn at random by the GrownUps administration team.
   5. GrownUps employees and family are not eligible to enter.
   6. By entering the giveaway, you approve for GrownUps to use your name on social media as winner of the competition.
   7. One entry per household.
   8. Prize is non transferrable.
   9. You must reside in New Zealand – the prize will only be posted within New Zealand.
   10. You must be over 50 years of age to enter, check your details are correct in your membership dashboard.