Cancer: a Pilgrim Companion

Someone in the UK is diagnosed with cancer every two minutes. A cancer diagnosis divides life into 'before' and 'after' and plunges those facing the disease into a wilderness of uncertainty, fear and suffering. In this wise and compassionate book, cancer survivor and Anglican priest Dr Gillian Straine considers some of the unhelpful imagery that bombards those diagnosed with the disease. How often do we say or hear that someone has lost their battle with cancer or is fighting hard? This suggests that cancer can be defeated by sheer force of will alone, or that someone who does not 'conquer' cancer was not fighting hard enough. Gillian Straine suggest another way through the 'cancer wilderness' by following the journey of Jesus himself through the darkness of the garden of Gethsemane and his journey to death on the cross, and beyond to the glimmers of hope afforded by the resurrection. Drawing on theology, Scripture and the arts, Gillian explores the taboos of cancer and offers solace and hope to all those facing the disease and their friends and supporters.