The Revd. Dr. Gillian K. Straine is the Director of the Guild of Health and St. Raphael. An Anglican Priest, she also has a doctorate in Physics from Imperial College London and is the author of Introducing Science and Religion: A path through polemic (SPCK, 2014). Gillian was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 21 and has been in remission since 2002. She lives in London with her husband and two young children.

A cancer diagnosis is a seismic event. It divides life into before and after, and propels the diagnosed into places of suffering, pain and isolation; life is turned upside down in the present while the future horizon clouds with uncertainty and fear. Despite someone getting diagnosed with cancer in the UK every two minutes, cancer is a disease that is often described as lonely as the sufferer sets out on a tough journey through waiting, treatment and recovery.   
In this wise and compassionate book, cancer survivor Gillian Straine proposes that this journey through illness, pain and anxiety be reconceptualised as a pilgrimage of discovery. The Christian faith is that we are never abandoned by God, and this promise holds wherever we might find ourselves, whether that is in the doctor's waiting room, in a chair receiving chemotherapy or lying on the surgeons table. Following the journey of Jesus through the darkness of Gethsemane, to the cross and into the silent waiting of Holy Saturday, this book invites the reader to seek God in their experience of cancer and, by pointing to the glimmers of resurrection hope in remission and beyond, to find healing in their own story of illness.

A handbook for those with cancer and those supporting them, reflecting on the spiritual and theological aspects of the journey through diagnosis and living with the disease.

Gillian Straine

CoverImage

Praise

About the Author

Title page

Copyright

Dedication

Acknowledgements

A beginning

1 The landscape

2 Diagnosis

3 Treatment

4 The vigil

5 Resurrection

Final words

Notes

__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.

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.

The Revd Dr Gillian Straine is Director of the Guild of Health and St Raphael. An Anglican priest, she also has a PhD in astrophysics and is the author of Introducing Science and Religion: A path through polemic (SPCK, 2014). Gillian was diagnosed with advanced cancer at the age of 21 and following chemotherapy has been in successful remission since 2002. Gillian has worked in pastoral ministry with those affected by cancer, both in a parish and in hospitals and hospices.

\["For those affected by cancer seeking hope and support", "Offers a fresh perspective on cancer's challenges", "You will feel less alone and find solace in your journey"\]

Find comfort and guidance through cancer with this compassionate companion.

Cancer: A Pilgrim Companion

Navigation Bar

Header Default

Download the Christian360 App to read eBooks and listen to Audiobooks bought at Christian360

Cancer: A Pilgrim Companion

Description

Need support?

Customer reviews

Download the App

Download the App