A single poem — heart-rending, fearful, raging, beautiful, grotesque, even hilarious — lets us know we’re not alone in dealing with cancer. This was the idea that launched The Cancer Poetry Project and drew more than 1,200 submissions from published poets, first-time poets and everyone in between. The award-winning result is a national anthology of 140 poems, plus the story and people behind each.
Hailed by critics and readers alike, The Cancer Poetry Project offers not lofty verse, but accessible, extraordinary poetry. From the hopeful Farewell to Hair (Terri Hanson) to the poignant Slow Dancing at the Med-Inn (F. Richard Thomas) to the laugh-out-loud Empathetic Ode (Dorothy Stone), there is a poem for everyone in this powerful collection. These are the words we long to say when someone we love is diagnosed. Cancer survivors find solace in its pages. And it is frequently used by cancer support groups. Truly, The Cancer Poetry Project is for anyone affected by cancer.
The Cancer Poetry Project: Poems by Cancer Patients and Those Who Love Them
What You Should Know About Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women and the second leading cause of cancer death, exceeded only by lung cancer in 1985. One woman in eight who lives to age 85 will develop breast cancer at some time during her life.
At present there are over 2 million women living in the United States who have been treated for breast cancer. About 41,000 women will die from the disease. The chance of dying from breast cancer is about 1 in 33. However, the rate of death from breast cancer is going down. This decline is probably the result of early detection and improved treatment.
Cancer Facts For Senior Citizens
The chances of developing cancer increase as you age, so senior citizens are at especially high risk for developing the disease. Fortunately, the number of deaths due to cancer have been declining; survival rates for people with cancer are higher than ever.