Confronting the Red Devil and Other Stories about Cancer

Abstract

This manuscript is an ethnographic narrative of the author’s experiences through breast cancer diagnosis and treatment. The metaphor of the heroine’s journey creates the template for the unfolding trials of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy for breast cancer. The power of community support, the body’s intelligence, and one’s ability to remain centered throughout cancer treatment are explored through narrative and academic writing style. Through the process of writing this manuscript, the author has integrated the traumatic events of breast cancer treatment and discovered meaning and value within her experiences. By analyzing personal experiences, the writer seeks to inform both the counsellor and the cancer patient of potential events when faced with the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer.