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3 out of 4 stars
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Inside The Mind of a Cancer Patient is R. J. Windham's memoir. He chronicles his journey and adventure going through and surviving prostate cancer. He had grown up in a large family and was nurtured by his grandmother and her seven daughters. He had two near-death experiences; the first was when he was five and was hit by a hit-and-run driver, while the other was when he was twenty-six and survived a bomb blast in a train station. He thought that was all till he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He had great support from his wife, Jill. He had to undergo Robotic Assisted Radical Prostatectomy (RARP) surgery and felt that was the end, but the future had more in store for him.
It takes courage to put down on paper such a journey as this, and I applaud the author's courage. I like his use of words in describing the events and his emotions. They captured every bit of it and relayed it wonderfully to the reader. The words of advice he added randomly would aid cancer patients and survivors, especially those with prostate cancer. The arrangement of this memoir was top-notch; R. J. Windham commenced it with his childhood experience, then progressed to his initial two near-death experiences, and it moved systematically to when and how he was diagnosed with cancer, then the rough road to recovery. He also included a website that would help the partners and caregivers of cancer patients and survivors, giving them extremely helpful tips.
I did not quite appreciate the technicality of this book. Many readers who are not medical practitioners, health care officials, or not acquainted with medical terms might find it a bit complex. Those medical terms should have been explained better for the readers to understand and appreciate the work. The words 'prostate cancer' might not be very well understood by some readers as they might not know how it occurs, thereby leaving them in the dark. Such big terms were also used when discussing procedures and surgeries. A better explanation would help in further enlightening the reader.
I would give this book a rating of 3 out of 4 stars. There were no grammatical errors, which is proof that it was exceptionally well edited. Also, the arrangement was chronologically done. The deducted star was as a result of the technicality I already wrote about in the previous paragraph.
Inside The Mind of a Cancer Patient is recommended to cancer survivors, those currently battling the disease and who feel that they are alone. This book will ignite a desire to fight and survive; it will serve as a companion on bleak days. Furthermore, it is for the partners and caregivers of these patients who also go through a lot trying to remain strong while caring for their loved ones. Note that everyone is different and might not experience similar symptoms as the author, so always consult your doctor when you notice anything.
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Inside the Mind of a Cancer Patient
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