Family matters : a select annotated bibliography for families coping with cancer

Abstract

With the focus on the cancer patient throughout the illness, the emotional well-being of family members is often overlooked. This bibliography aims to address this issue with selected annotations of print and online resources to help families dealing with cancer in New Zealand understand and cope with the emotional issues they face. The selection serves various purposes, such as providing information and guidance, bringing comfort and providing an avenue for catharsis. It includes fiction, self-help guides, memoirs, personal narratives and scientific studies written for the lay person. Items are arranged according to user age group (children, teenagers and adults), within which they are further classified into the relationship of the cancer patient to the reader (e.g. When a Parent has Cancer). Due to the universality of the topic, items selected include both New Zealand and international resources as long as they are easily accessible in New Zealand. This bibliography aims to demonstrate to families that they are not alone in this stressful situation, that others have experienced similar emotional upheavals. It aims to inspire readers with ideas on coping and communicating effectively and ultimately to promote better emotional health for both family members and the patient