How can there possibly be a bright side to breast cancer? That’s the question that Anne Marie Bennett used to ask herself whenever she read about cancer survivors. Were they simply overly optimistic? Little did she know that she would find herself in the shoes of the very same people she only used to read about.
When Anne was diagnosed with breast cancer, she was devastated. To get through it, she realized that she needed to make a choice between suffering through cancer or embracing it and allowing it to transform her life. Culled from her journal entries during the ten months of her diagnosis, surgery and treatment, the Bright Side of the Road: A Spiritual Journey Through Breast Cancer is an empowering and inspiring account of Anne’s journey through cancer.
Breast Cancer is difficult but it is even more so when you feel like nobody understands how you feel. Through her stories, Anne pulls from her own experiences and shows others who may be going through the same thing that they’re not alone. She talks about the roller coaster of emotions that come with every stage of the experience—the fear, anger, humor and yes, the gratitude. Moreover, there is raw emotion in the way she talks about the physical, emotional, sexual and spiritual toll of this devastating disease and how she gained strength by overcoming them.
This book is also a wonderful resource for those who may not have the disease but know or love someone who does. It provides insight into the doctor-patient relationship, sexuality, managing expectations, prayer and affirmation. It also provides information for caregivers and a meditation Anne wrote and used during her treatment.
Whether you have breast cancer, know someone who does or simply want to know about the experience, Bright Side of the Road is a book that shows us that something as difficult as breast cancer may make you feel scared and vulnerable but you can make the decision not to let it defeat you and instead, teach you to live life on the bright side of the road.
About the Book
Bright Side of the Road: A Spiritual Journey Through Breast Cancer is a book about choosing to embrace the flow of never-ending changes and allowing them to transform your life. Written by cancer survivor Anne Marie Bennett, the Bright Side of the Road is for anyone whose life has been touched in any way by cancer. It follows her spiritual journey through cancer diagnosis, surgeries and treatment that shows how fear can give way to hope, gratitude and inspiration.
About the Author
According to her website, Anne Marie Bennett is a freelance writer, self-taught collage artist, website inner-preneur, SoulCollageⓇ facilitator and eight-year breast cancer survivor. She graduated from Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven and taught the secong grade for six years in Virginia. She later became a consultant and a District Trainer for an educational software company in New England. It was at that time that she published her children’s novel, My Other Dad (under her maiden name Anne Pacheco)
Anne’s bout with cancer led her to back to writing and art. She is a facilitator of SoulCollageⓇ, an intuitive art process that helps deepen inner wisdom and self-esteem. It has helped her heal from the emotional impact of breast cancer.
She lives in Beverly, Massachusetts with her husband Jeff, two elderly cats and a playful dog that keeps them young. Visit her website http://annemariebennett.com
Michelle Vandepas started Talking Books TV as a site to help authors and their books get more exposure. She teaches authentic marketing for on and offline marketing campaigns and specializes in working with people who want to live their Conscious Livelihood (R). Â Find out more about how to work with Michelle on her site, MichelleVandepas.com 
2 Comments
10:29 am
Kevin Benton
The interview with Ms. Michelle and Ms. Ann Marie was awesome. It was touching, moving and very informative. Ms. Ann Marie’s attitude and perspective while going through her season of suffering was truly exceptional. The entire interview was great but the part that really hit home with me was the connection she made between forgiveness, changing your thinking, allowing herself to be human while going through the process and healing from cancer. It was a very inspirational story indeed. All the best to you and your book Ms. Ann Marie.Take care and God bless.
11:37 am
Debbie @ Happy Maker
Good job and story. My mother had breast cancer and did beat it. However she only had part of one breast removed and always wish she would of had reconstruction surgery. She told me that when she looked at herself she felt like it was like having one crippled child. With that in mind I feel that women should always go for the reconstruction sugery when confronted with this diease.
Debbie